Football season is always right around the corner. Most players are going to be participating in one form of football camp or another. Even though it is the offseason, being prepared for summer football camp is critical.

What kind of summer training should you be taking part in before summer football camp comes around? With a bit of a football camp prep guide, you can take your football training to the next level and arrive at football camp ready to go.

Why Preparation Matters

Even the best athletes can’t just roll into football camp and expect to dominate. It takes preparation and training to ensure that you can achieve peak performance when summer football camp finally arrives.

Proper summer training is a bit different as well. After all, athletes have to account for the heat so that they don't face a lag in performance because of the high temperatures. Below are a few key tips that can take your football training to a new level.

Sleep

It doesn’t matter what time of year it is. Whether you are working on football camp prep or getting ready to take on a big rival, sleep is critical. Rest and recovery should be focal points for athletes throughout the year to keep the body healthy and ready.

Try to keep away from screens before bed as it can impact the quality of sleep. More importantly, make sure to get at least seven or eight hours of sleep every single night. The best players are typically able to think ahead a step or two and that wouldn’t be possible without proper sleep.

Nutrition

For athletes of all backgrounds, the body constantly needs proper fuel. Whether preparing for a track meet, summer football camp, or any other activity, you need to make sure that your body has all the fuel it needs to reach peak performance when you need it most.

Start by setting personal nutrition goals. While you may think summer training is all about physical activity, it is really more about what you are putting into your body. Don’t skip meals if you can help it, whether it be before, during, or after football camp. Missing calories is depriving your body of the energy that it requires.

Lastly, make sure that you are eating quality foods. Fats and carbs are actually great for athletes if they are managed properly. Working with a nutritionist can be a good thing to do, especially heading into a summer football camp.

Stretch

Before you can get to your summer training, there is the matter of stretching. It would be surprising to learn how many athletes forget to stretch before rigorous activity. That means leaving the body more susceptible to injury, taking the focus off of performance and on recovery instead.

Any football camp prep should involve a stretching routine. Mobility is critical in football, especially in the shoulders and hips. While the goal may not be to be the most limber person on the field, that extra mobility can reduce the strain endured by muscles and joints.

Light stretching, especially after a warm-up, can be great for summer training. Improved range of motion is invaluable not only for practice but in game situations as well. Even a quick, simple stretch can go a long way toward a strong summer football camp.

Balanced Workouts

Among football players, there is a misconception that strength is all about lifting heavy weights. While there is certainly some power required to become stronger on the field, it isn’t the end all, be all for football training, either.

Focusing too heavily on one area may be detrimental. Cardio is good, but don’t think that spending more time on the treadmill is worth more than resistance training. The latter can be great for improving power, strength, and explosive ability, which are all crucial on the football field.

Cardio will come as part of the football camp. After all, there will be a ton of jumping and sprinting done over the course of camp. By working on improving strength and flexibility, football players can keep their bodies sturdy and able to hold up to the rigors of the season.

Stay Hydrated

In summer football camp, it goes without saying that things can get hot. Within minutes, players are sweating, and it will only get worse as the camp goes on. For that reason, staying hydrated is an absolute must for any summer training.

Keep a water bottle along at the very least. There are also plenty of sports drinks that have been formulated to improve hydration and boost electrolytes. Failing to stay hydrated is not only bad for performance but can be potentially dangerous as well.

When temperatures soar, make sure that you keep yourself safe. Never go too long without having a bit of water or sports drink and you will keep your body strong.

Now that you have all the tips for having a strong football summer camp, make sure you have all the performance gear you need. Shop the essentials at Battle Sports.