Going for a “PR” In-Season…Do’s and Don’ts
It’s every competitive athlete’s favorite thing to do! Go for a personal record or a PR and see how strong they are! Although it’s fun to compete and see where you stand compared to your friends, it may not be the most ideal way to train during the season. Training as an athlete is more than just how strong you in the gym, it’s making sure you can complete the season as healthy and effectively as possible! So let’s break down PR’s and how they fit into a hockey program.
What is a PR?
Ok, let’s clarify what a PR actually is. A PR is a personal record or every time you lift more weight than the last time setting a new personal best. It’s very alluring to want to always hit PR’s year round as it’s a great measure of improvement but as an athlete there is so much more to being a complete well rounded player especially during the season.
How PR’s Effect the Body
Constantly hitting PR’s can greatly tax the body especially draining your CNS or central nervous system. The CNS is responsible for tons of functions in the body, especially body movement, balance, coordination. It also plays a role in cognitive function including the ability to think clearly, feel your body effectively and be sharp to learn. You can imagine if the CNS is constantly drained it’s going to be very hard for you body to also function at a high level during practices and games that require a huge amount of physical and cognitive power.
How to Program Effectively
During the intense grind of the season (full week of practices and games) it would not be wise to try and hit PR’s consistently. With a couple weeks off mid season you could potentially increase weight during your strength training program but I’d save the PR’s for the summer off-season. That’s where your body can handle the load and truly make those strength gains. Then during the season the focus should be on maintaining your strength throughout the season as well as keeping the body injury free and moving efficiently.
Check out this video for the full breakdown.
This is a quick breakdown of why PR’s are not the most effective training method during the season but if you have any questions or would like more information don’t hesitate to reach out!
#unleashthepotential
Written by:
Rob Jost – ACE-CPT, NSCA-CPT
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