AFL is the great Aussie game. It’s the ultimate test of speed, strength, and technique, with players battling it out over a full 80 minutes in some tough winter conditions. And, whilst it may be our great winter game, Aussie rules can certainly be enjoyed in the off-season, too!
There are many benefits to continuing your training in the off-season, including health and social advantages that you can carry with you to the next season. So, if you’re thinking about kicking back and having a few frothy in the off-season, that’s fine! But you might also like to continue heading down to the local oval to ensure you keep your shape and keep up some more healthy socializing when the beers are calling.
So, here are a few reasons why you should continue to play footy in summer:
1. It’s great to train in the warmth
Grab your best AFL merchandise and head down to the local oval because you’ve got some hot weather work to put in! Studies indicate that exercising and training in the heat are great for increasing cardiovascular fitness. What’s more, exercising is obviously one of the best ways to get out and enjoy the summer sun!
Sure, in our time off we would love to be sitting around having a beer in the backyard, but we should always maintain just a little bit of balance to ensure we don’t carry on our Mad Monday sessions into our regular routine. As such, training in warm weather is not only great for cardiovascular health, but it is also a great way to get some of that awesome Vitamin D that is so important for our health and happiness.
2. It’s a great way to keep in shape
Many players like to have a good old rest in the off-season. That’s fine, but it’s not the best thing to do when you’re looking to keep in shape for the season to come. As such, summer training could be the best idea for increasing your form going into the new season.
If you’re really looking to up your game to new heights of greatness, working on your skills in the off-season will give you a leg up over the competition whilst impressing your coaching staff. So, this and also helping you keep in shape are two of the ultimate reasons to keep training in the summer months!
3. It’s a great way to socialize
We’ve all had our boozy summers. Those lazy days chilling hard with a beer in hand and the cricket on the telly, and they’re great, for sure, but it never hurts to enjoy some healthy socializing through playing one of your favorite sports. Calling your mates and getting down to the local oval for a kick is heaps of fun no matter what age, and it is definitely one of the best catch-ups you can have outside of the pub.
4. It’s just some serious fun in the sun
At the end of the day, playing footy in the summer months is one of the best things you can do in the off-season. It will help you up your game whilst keeping you fit in a fun and social way. If you’re looking for one of the best things you can do for your health, fitness, and footy, training the summer months is surely the way to go!
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