As coaches, we are constantly preaching to our team that players are “made in the offseason”. We say this because it is true, but also as motivation to inspire our student-athletes to grind and work harder at improving their game. I have used this comment several times with my guys and truly believe that it rings true with them.

However, as coaches, we are “made in the offseason” as well. What do you use your offseason for? We expect our student-athletes to put in the extra hours and early morning times in the gym or weight room; but, how much extra effort do we put in during the offseason to work on our craft?

Depending on your level, you might be able to work with your team some in the offseason. This is a great thing, but how many of us also work on ourselves. The offseason is a time for you to invest in yourself and improve as a coach.

There are many forms of this, but self-evaluating how you performed this past season, as well as your staff, is crucial. Going back to watch film on games, practices, workouts; whatever it is and helps you, how much time do you spend trying to evaluate your own performance?

This is a great time to review practice plans, does your practice flow, where would you tweak some things, do you need a complete overhaul? Do you reach out to boosters, alumni, parents? Getting with your own administration, picking their brains on things they see, areas you could improve.

Ask questions of those around you and those you trust; asking coaches that you play against or that have seen you play, but have a great rapport with or friendship with can be helpful as well. Meet with people in the community, run camps, do things that will get you more involved in your area.

Invest in yourself and your own growth. Find clinics, roundtable discussions, and forums to attend to get different perspectives and give your own perspectives. Sometimes explaining things you do to other peers/coaches and what you believe in, helps remind and refresh yourself of why you do what you do.

Networking is another key thing in the offseason; this can be done in many ways, but meet different coaches, meet with other administrators, meet others on your own campus that you do not know.

Lastly, do not forget to take some down time. Do not use the ENTIRE offseason as down time, but take some time with family/friends and refresh. Work on your health and your fitness; sometimes during the grind of the season, we lose sight of our own well-being and our health.

Make sure you get back to your work/life balance. Take some trips, have some staycations, refill your tank, but then get back to work. We cannot tell our players that they are “made in the offseason” if do not rebuild and re-tweak ourselves in the offseason as well.