Why the off season is the most important part of your career.

"There are three types of people in this world, those who make things happen, those who watch things happen, and those who wonder what happened."

 The above quote couldn't be more true. Most professionals agree in that the off season is the absolute most important period in an athletes career. The off season, in my opinion, has a few different aspects to it: the recovery period, the strength period, and the developmental period. Each period is extremely important for an athlete's overall development, so lets start with the obvious one.

1) The recovery period.
This time frame is crucial for your body, especially for goalkeepers. Our bodies take a beating, even though the season is only 3-4 months long, our bodies require rest. Here is the misconception about rest, people generally relate rest with not doing anything. Putting the sport aside and focusing on other things. This is completely wrong. Our bodies should always stay active. In this period, we should focus on assisting our bodies. I used to do yoga to help relax and improve my flexibility. Not only was it calming and made my body feel brand new, but it also help me become more agile and flexible as a goalkeeper. Do your body a favor, focus on stretching, light running, cross training, and nutrition. This period should last about 3-4 weeks.

2) The Strength period.
The strength period is arguably the most important of the three phases in the off season. This is the time we begin to build our bodies. We, in theory, should be hitting the gym and lifting weights attempting to make our bodies stronger and more prepared for the beating that comes with the position. As a goalkeeper there are three areas of concentration: our core, our legs, and our upper body. We need to become more explosive and more powerful during this period. Leg workouts should include explosive movements so that our agility/quickness isn't compromised. We should work on our abs/core a minimum of 2-3 times per week to help stabilize and balance our body. And finally, we should bulk our upper body so that we can protect ourselves in the air and while hitting the ground. Eating correctly in this time period is just as essential as working out. You CAN NOT OUT WORK A BAD DIET. This stage should last about

3) The Developmental Period
This period can begin and overlap the other periods, specifically the strength period. This period starts our journey back to the playing field. I could argue this period last all year long but for this articles sake, I'll say that this period should start not later than a month before you season. Two areas where you can begin: getting touches on the ball and rebuilding your base fitness. It is time for us to begin preparing our bodies for the workload. Fitness is important. High School and College coaches will expect you to show up day one of preseason already fit. Not only that but they expect you to already have the rust off. One month (at minimum) before preseason begins, you should be running outside, sprints and long distance, while also getting your touch and comfort levels back to normal. As Goalkeepers we should also begin to introduce our bodies to the ground, start taking light shots, dive on the ground, get prepared for what's to come. What we do when no one is watching will define us as an athlete. I challenge you to work on your own. Be the best you can be. Don't settle more mediocrity. Take this off season seriously.

A Letter to My Goal

Gianluigi Buffon is consider by many to be one of the greatest Goalkeepers to ever live. "Gigi," as most call him, currently plays for Juventus and represents his native country Italy. This past year he was able to break one of the toughest goalkeeping records in professional soccer when he went 974 minutes with out conceding a goal. That's almost 11, 90 minute games. The 37 year old Goalkeeper released this poem as a reflection of his relationship with the goal.  The poem itself is simply beautiful.

"I was 12 when I turned my back on you, denying my past to guarantee you a safe future.

I went with my heart

I went with my instinct

But the day I stopped looking you in the face is also the day that I started to love you

To protect you

To be your first and last line of defence

I promised myself that I would do everything not to see your face again. Or that I would do it as little as possible. It was painful every time I did, turning round and realising I had disappointed you.

Again

And again.

We have always been opposites yet we are complementary, like the sun and the moon. Forced to live side by side without being able to touch. Team-mates for life, a life in which we are denied all contact

More than 25 years ago I made my vow: I swore to protect you. Look after you. A shield against all your enemies. I’ve always thought about your welfare, putting it first even ahead of my own.

I was 12 when I turned my back on my goal. And I will keep doing it as long as my legs, my head and my heart will allow.”

-Gianluigi "Gigi"Buffon