The Daily Grind: The work starts in the off-season

It's time to go to work now that summer is officially here.

This edition of the Daily Grind will focus on the importance of young athletes perfecting their skills for the next sports season. I know when you think of summer, it’s centered around going on vacation and unwinding from a tough athletic and academic year. I’m sure the last thing you want to do is be in the gym or on a hot field.

However, I’ve learned that summer training is a vital part of every athlete's growth and development. Athletes who put in the time and effort to train during the summer will surely reap the benefits throughout the school year. The great thing about the off-season is that you get to make those mistakes and have more time to practice to get better.

When the season begins, many high school or college athletes won’t have the time to work on their craft. It’s important that you take advantage of every opportunity to get better. Some of you have already begun your summer grind with the start of summer workouts. Trust me, I understand how tough they can be, but they will pay off during the season. One thing my old high school coach would say is that you work hard in the summer, that way when the season comes around, you’re not the player huffing and puffing because you’re out of shape.

One thing about the grind is that it never stops. I encourage you all to go to camps and get some experience playing with and against different athletes. You’ll be amazed about what you can learn from watching and training with others. Today, sports have become a yearly thing with AAU and travel teams, of which I encourage every athlete to be a part of. I can’t stress enough how important the summer is for athletes. When you’re training, don’t just go through the motions, go all out.

If you’re an upcoming senior and you didn’t like the way things went for you last season, get to work. I’m a firm believer in working hard for positive results. If no one ever told you, your body is an investment, and you must take care of it at all times, especially athletes. Come season time, athletes who laze about around the house all summer are prone to a possible injury.

The season may put a lot of strain on a student-athlete's body, therefore I advise you to put in the hard training now and suffer now rather than later. No one wants to be on the sidelines when the season gets going.

Another great thing about the summer is getting the chance to build a bond with your teammates. When you look at certain teams that flow well on the court or field, it’s because they’ve built a relationship, so it puts everyone in sync. You get to learn about a teammate's likes and dislikes, and then you slowly become a family, thus making you guys unstoppable as a team.

Now, the summer can’t be filled with all work and no play. I’m all in favor of taking a break. When I say take a break, I mean no physicality at all. One thing that I’ve learned is the importance of mental health and being able to have the space to focus on yourself. It’s great to have that competitive spirit and edge, but when it’s the off-season, that’s the perfect time to be a kid or teen.

This is my ninth edition of the Daily Grind, and I hope my words of encouragement are helping some of you navigate through the life of being a student-athlete.

I wish you all the best of luck this summer as you try to maneuver your way to success as a student-athlete. Remember, nothing in this world can stop you from achieving greatness if you stick to the daily grind.

D’Courtland Christian is the sports editor of the Daily American Republic. Contact him at dchristian@darnews.com.