Is sitting out a basketball season really that crazy? Watching this video has cemented what I have been communicating for while now. When I heard Collins synopsis on what Lebron should do in the way of deciding whether to stay or leave Cleveland, I was not shocked at all.
I am not saying that any of us will be in Lebron’s position having to decide whether to leave an NBA team for another. Hell, I’d take any NBA team. But Collin does bring up some very important benefits to sitting out a year. Let’s put this in perspective for you.
Sitting out a basketball season isn’t ideal and for people that love playing the game this is the silliest thing they would ever hear. Stay with me on this one though. In certain circumstances, not always, there’s benefits to sitting out a season.
Resting
Resting will enable you to recover mentally and physically.
Yep, I can vouch for this. Rest plays a big part of being in peak fitness and if your body is battered from the previous basketball season, injured or if you are feeling too tired, it seems you are not taking your rest and recovery phase seriously. I know this is hard when you are not a professional basketball player and don’t have access to team doctors or physio’s.
However, if this is how you feel then you need to learn how to schedule rest and recovery time and if that doesn’t work. It is time to sit out the some time or for the whole season.
Taking time off to concentrate on recovery enabled your body to get stronger and more refreshed. Hence allowing you to perform at your peak ability. Pushing through injuries and fatigue could see you sidelined for a long time. It’s not uncommon for athletes to injure themselves seriously due to fatigue.
Mentally alert and motivated
Feeling tired takes its toll on a person mentally not to mention the pressures of the game. Being mentally alert enables you to be motivated to train and get batter. Without this motivation getting to training can be a task. When the enjoyment is taken out of the game it is time to walk away.
A break will help you clear your mind and help you miss the game. How many times have you been separated from something you took for granted only to find that you miss it. Stepping away from the game will give you a great kicker to start playing again. I have recently seen this with an acquaintance of mine. Took a basketball season off due to frustration, now paying a personal coach to whip him back in shape.
When you play at a high level the mental game can be taxing. If you are feeling too drained or having issues with internal politics that is causing you stress. Maybe it is best to sit it out and start a new season refreshed.
I did this more than a few times and when I came back I was a better basketball player than before. However, if you are having issues with your coach make sure you are handling it in the appropriate way. You don’t want to build a bad name for yourself and ruin any chances the next season. Remember, coaches talk to each other!
There’s hosts of reasons not to sit out a season of basketball and in most cases I do agree it is not for the best. You have a short window in your life to play the game and you don’t want to be sidelined for the majority of it.
Playing a season when your body is fatigued or you are not mentally sharp is going to lead you to a season that is not fulfilling to your expectations. In certain cases it is just better to sit out and use the time to work on your physical and mental game.