The offseason for athletes is filled with routines and preparation of their bodies for the upcoming season. Whether it is recovering from a gruesome injury, spending hours in the weight room, or mentally preparing for their Senior year, athletes all across the world use the offseason to get ready. When the Coronavirus began in the middle of March, the offseason landscape changed dramatically as athletes tried to prepare for a season full of unknowns. There have been many talking points about the fall sports season as coaches, athletic directors, governors, and even the president have made their opinions known on how the games this fall should play out. Yet through all the talk, the athletes have tried to adapt to what is an extremely difficult situation.
When the Coronavirus canceled school and, therefore, high school athletes seasons, Saline High School junior Caden Winston, saw many of his friends' athletic careers cut short. Winston described seeing Seniors not being able to have their senior year games as “pretty brutal.” Winston began to have doubts in his mind as he worried about the possibility of a postponed senior year. Both Winston and senior soccer player Brayden Stavros, used the offseason to prepare themselves for the upcoming fall season.
While others were reasonably watching Netflix, Stavros set up bodyweight exercises for himself and began to have a daily routine at home. Winston used his uncle’s weights to workout and talked with teammates over PlayStation. Stavros described the spring workouts as all “about being accountable. It was all about being ready and staying ready.”
Stavros also used a neighborhood park to his advantage, as he and his brother went to work out during the day. However, it did not provide the benefits as same as a typical offseason, “I felt myself doing more workouts during quarantine due to being bored, but the quality of my workouts was greater at a gym,” Stavros stated.
However, when the feelings around the possibility of a soccer season began to become more and more optimistic, there was still an adjustment period. The soccer team could not take their annual trip, so they had to have socially distanced team bonfires, small workouts, and zoom practices to establish team chemistry. Stavros admitted that “wearing a mask at first was difficult...we had a lot more substitutions than usual in our first game.”
Having a veteran team consisting of 11 seniors has helped during this unpredictable season. As a fourth-year varsity member, Stavros makes sure that every player goes into each practice with the mindset that it could be their last. Stavros helped ensure that this would be a winning season for the hornets as they wrapped up another SEC Red Championship.
Winston, a member of the high school football team, had just enjoyed a successful season in a limited role. Winston was preparing for a bigger role in the offense and was planning on using the offseason to get stronger and mentally prepare for the grueling nature of a football season. However, as the pandemic changed some of those aspirations, Winston had to modify his plans.
Winston had his personal trainer give him core and bodyweight exercises to help stay ready for the season. “He put me on a diet to make sure I was eating the proper nutrition and gave me exercises for injury prevention,” Winston said. In preparing for a more significant role in the offense this season, Winston watched a lot of film during the quarantine. He described the film watching, “as a great way to pass the time and stay mentally ready for my role in the offseason.”
Winston was also in contact with Nate Griffin, owner of a gym in Ypsilanti named “Hungry n Hustle.” He and a few teammates were able to use the gym in a limited capacity when Michigan began to open up more. They were extremely grateful for the opportunity as Winston said, “it was good, being able to use the proper weights and get back to a routine.” He confessed that it was different having to wear a mask and do weightlifting outside but, “that the state is just trying to keep us safe...so we have to adjust.”
After the beginning of the football season was announced, Winston leaped off his couch in joy. He believes that the team’s chemistry has not been affected due to the zoom calls with teammates and coaches, holding others accountable in team group chats, and preparing his body for the grueling games ahead. Winston had a fabulous start to the season scoring in the opening game and continuing to grasp the offense. “The game keeps slowing down for me, and I just have to keep executing.” He looks to continue a great season and help the hornets in their championship aspirations.
Both of these athletes have had to adjust to the global pandemic, similar to the millions of families worldwide. An athlete’s offseason is one of the most beneficial times for them to rest their bodies, get stronger, and communicate with teammates. Through home workouts, film watching, and constant mental preparation these two have led their teams to a successful season.
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