Learning to find a balance between rest days and training days is the key to success in your sport. Athletes push their bodies to the limits – especially those training for something as big as the Olympics. We recently chatted with 3 of our Longstreth Sponsored Athletes who were members of USA Field Hockey’s 2024 Olympic Team to share what rest days are like for them. Here’s what they had to say!
Brooke DeBerdine: Longstreth Sponsored Gryphon Athlete
“I started to learn the importance of rest days and understood how impactful they could be to my on field performance in college. Rest days for me often involve sleeping in a little, getting organized for the week ahead with meals and my schedule, and lastly doing things that fill my cup such as going to dinner with friends or reading a book!
Training during the off-season is so important because it is the perfect time to truly focus on your game and what you need to improve on. I always tried to spend off season working on my basic skills whether that being my hitting technique or my ball carrying position. During in season you often focus on more tactical work with your team strategy but the off season really allows you to hone in on your technical work. In the off season, it also gives you a lot of time to work on your speed and agility. I always loved and still do love pushing myself in the off season in a conditioning workout by myself. Training on your own in the off season and taking charge of your own development teaches you grit and perseverance!”
Phia Gladieux: Longstreth Sponsored TK Athlete
Rest days are just as important as training days, you can't train super hard every single day and expect to get better. Your body NEEDS rest and recovery to grow and get stronger....and quite frankly so does your brain! Some people think that rest days aren't as important but that is the key to recovery and injury prevention. I think some beneficial things you can do on a rest day is doing anything that you feel your body needs whether that is going on a walk, yoga, swimming, or just straight up being a couch potato! All of these things are okay, do what YOU need for YOUR body.
As for the off-season, it is extremely important to stay active and fit and keep playing your sport one way or another. If you become in a state of complete deactivation, and all of a sudden show up to pre-season and go all out, you are putting yourself at risk of injury which is NOT what we want. It is also putting your mental health in a state of shock going from one extreme to another versus easing into it. It is important to keep up with your conditioning as well as your skills, finding a balance is key.
Cassie Sumfest: Longstreth Sponsored Ritual Athlete
"Growing up it was really hard for me to remember to take off days. But as I’ve gotten older, its really showed me how important off days/rest days are for recovery and injury prevention. On rest days I like to get out and about and go for a nature walk or do yoga, something to move my body and get blood flowing for recovery. I also like to do something for myself- whether that’s reading, painting, getting my nails done, doing a face mask, getting a coffee, or making a fun recipe."
