Its important to take a break.

With everyone coming back from nationals and school starting up just around the corner, its important to take a break. So many times I have talked with parents and players who think they or their daughters do not need a break from training because they think they will get out of "softball shape." Our bodies need a break sometimes from training. Its unhealthy to go 24/7 365 days a year training for softball.  I sacrificed a lot of dances, sleep overs, lake time, and just general hang out time to go play softball. It paid off for me in the end but I look back now and their were times when I did not have to sacrifice that time to be a great ball player.

I did take some time off though. Since I am from Oklahoma our school ball runs through the fall so, as soon as I stepped off the plane from nationals I went straight to the ball park to go put on my high school team's jersey and play some more ball. A little nuts I know but I love softball :). However, when November would come around I shut my body down. I usually didn't pick up a ball or bat between November to January. I would swing and throw a little, but it was only once a week. I gave my body a good break. I always always continued to run and work out in the weight room. That was one thing I never stopped doing. But there were times I just laid the game down. I enjoyed time with high school friends, worked VERY hard on my grades, which I encourage all of you to do and went to a couple of dances and just acted normal for a bit. But when spring time came around again I was gone.

My training fired up again and my high school friends didn't see much of me. So, for many of you coming back from nationals take at least 2 weeks off from ball. Although, If you can keep it up in the weight room and take a jog around the neighborhood do so. Go hang out with high school friends and start prepping yourself for grades and your ACTs and SATs. You have to have that to go play so better get on it. I know you probably have tryout right around the corner but trust me you will be okay if you took some time off. It might just make you a little more sharper. Keep up the grades and have some fun these next couple of weeks :)