Off season can mean different things depending on who you are talking to and where you are in the world. A hotel manager may say the off season is when there is the least tourism, the least amount of traffic, maybe something like November? An athlete will describe the off season as the period of time after the end of a season when they stop their sport and begin strength training at the gym for example. If your speaking to someone during COVID, they may describe the entire year of 2020 as the off season.
When I was in Israel for a few months, November felt the same as September, maybe a little cooler but the leaves definitely didn't change colour and there weren't many opportunities for sweater weather. This was a memorable point in time when my appreciation for our Canadian seasons was highlighted.
I love Canada. I love the variety of the 4 seasons and I especially enjoy the off season. I'm someone who loves change (sometimes to a fault but I'm working on it), because with change, comes something new, and something advanced. The period of transition that comes with change can be difficult, but there is always an undertone of excitement in the air.... Growth? Renewal?
I searched "Off Season Training" and this is what I found: "This is the period of time after the conclusion of the season where athletes decrease sport specific skill work and start to focus on functional movement and strength development. This change in focus will allow for greater gains in skill work as the foundation of their athletic pyramid grows". I'm quite fond of this definition because with a few minor tweaks, it can be applied to anyone and everyone, not just athletes.
For me the off season is a forced pause, a time to do things that I don't usually do. This specific time of year, the ski season has ended, its still sort of cold for road biking and it can be quite rainy. Instead of getting up and doing, I get up and think about something different. Whether you are a professional athlete, a weekend warrior, a hotel manager, a chief home officer or a caterpillar in its cocoon, we all need the off season.
The offseason allows for greater gains in skill work, as the foundation of our personal pyramid grows.
What do you do in the off season?