Summer rest for athletes

Summer rest for athletes
The summer vacation period is a period that athletes expect, need and at the same time are called upon to make the most of. For athletes, the period of “vacation” varies depending on their level, their competitive obligations, and the demands of each sport.
During the period in which the athlete will “rest”, he needs to invest in different types of rest. Describing the most important types for athletes, we refer to the following types of rest:
Physical: It is ensured with more sleep and reduced mobility in general. Even fun activities require attention as for athletes the body needs to be inactive for a period of time. This period helps the body to heal possible injuries, regain energy and prevent exhaustion.
Mental: Refers to the state in which the person occupies his mind with anything that does not require much thought, anything that does not constitute a complex activity.
Emotional: The person is called upon to avoid anything that is intense or creates strong emotions, especially “psycho-stressful”. Throughout the competitive season, athletes activate their emotions either to manage training or for the needs of the competitions. They experience the “demand” of the environment on themselves and need a period in which they will not try to satisfy the demands of the environment.
Sensory: It would be helpful to avoid screens and anything that stimulates the sensory system for a long period of time. The body also needs to rest the senses! Less mobile and television!
Social: Contacts with friends and in general with people with whom he feels pleasant and comfortable, will help the athlete both to rest and to receive a lot of emotional energy through the pleasant feeling. It will help if he has fun, as long as it does not harm his physical condition.
Different forms of rest will help athletes to “make the most of” the time they have for their rest. This time is important and necessary, as much as it requires a demarcation for its duration. For professional athletes or athletes at a high level, the period of general rest cannot exceed 15-20 days. After that, rest becomes inactivity and it will be very difficult to return to the high level to which he is called upon to respond.
The period of “vacation” is necessary and necessary, it requires focus on all areas of rest, is formed based on the level of the athletes and is also served by their immediate environment! Athletes’ vacations are part of the sport!

Giannis Zarotis MSc-PhD
Psychologist-Sports Psychologist