| td> | | | | on your body. Inevitably, some parts of your body |
| No matter what level of the game you’re | | | | would be slightly damaged such as your muscles and |
| playing, or what sport you’re in, doing | | | | your ligaments. |
| warm-ups and cool down exercises are an important | | | | Cooling down helps return your body to pre-game |
| part of your life as an athlete. Doing warm-ups helps | | | | levels. That way, your body could begin its recovery |
| prime your body for the strenuous activity | | | | process much more quickly. |
| you’re about to do on the field. Meanwhile, | | | | Do the Right Warm-Ups |
| cool down exercises help your body return to its | | | | Are you doing your warm-ups correctly? You’ll |
| normal levels after playing hard. | | | | probably say yes. But if you equate warming up with |
| But are you making the most out of these | | | | doing static stretches, then you’re probably |
| exercises? Probably not. That’s because there | | | | not doing it right. |
| are still misconceptions on warming up and cooling | | | | Static stretches are those that require you to |
| down that are being spread around the sporting | | | | stretch your limb and hold it in a certain position for a |
| community that may do you more harm than good. | | | | certain amount of time. This isn’t used much in |
| Thus, here are some of my softball training tips that | | | | high performance sports anymore because it |
| will help you make the most out of your warm-ups | | | | doesn’t really minimize your chances of |
| and cool down exercises. | | | | getting injured. |
| Let’s begin. | | | | Instead, static stretches turns off your nervous |
| Never Miss Warm-Ups or Cool Down Exercises | | | | system which is actually the reverse effect of what |
| Although athletes are always reminded to warm-up | | | | you’re supposed to be doing when |
| and cool down before and after a game, there are | | | | you’re warming up. Because of that, your |
| still a lot of them who miss doing these. | | | | muscles lose power which could last for up to an |
| If you don’t know what harm you’re | | | | hour. |
| doing to your body by not doing these exercises, let | | | | So instead of doing static stretches, I recommend |
| me remind you about them again. | | | | you do dynamic warm-ups instead. It involves doing |
| The better-known purpose of the warm up is to | | | | exercises that will help fire up your nervous system |
| keep your muscles relaxed and prepare it for the | | | | and at the same time improve the range of motion |
| game ahead. But more than that, warm-ups also fire | | | | of your major joints. |
| up your nervous system so that your muscles could | | | | Don’t know how to do dynamic warm-ups? I |
| react quickly to what you’re telling it to do. | | | | suggest you consult a good strength and conditioning |
| And your muscles’ reaction time would be | | | | coach about this. |
| very slow unless you warm them up first. | | | | The next time you play the game or train, I hope |
| Meanwhile, there are the cool down exercises. There | | | | you’ll remember these softball training tips |
| are several reasons why you should cool down after | | | | that I just shared with you. |
| a game. For one, playing softball puts a lot of stress | | | | |