Pro Athletes Opting Out of Seasons Due to COVID, and How You Can Work on Your Game if You Chose a Similar Route

With the sports world collectively pausing, starting back up again, and potentially pausing once more, seasons, practices, and training regimes are consistently being interrupted by the pandemic. So much so, in fact, that numerous key players have opted out of their professional seasons. Throughout each league, there have been 66 NFL players in total, 22 MLB players, 10 NBA players, as well as numerous NCAA athletes who chose to opt out of the remainder of their respective seasons. Tuukka Rask, star goalie for the Boston Bruins, even opted out of the season midway through their playoff run.

On a smaller scale, a lot of schools that have recently started back up have decided to shut down again either in part, or as a whole, and a lot of student athletes are either forced to forfeit their season, or have decided not to play, regardless of what their team is doing. This is an unprecedented time in sports, and it’s important to focus on what’s best for you and your family, as individuals, when deciding next steps. Regardless of whether or not you’ve chosen to opt out of your season, or if your season has been cancelled, it's important to remember that your game isn’t.  

Focus on improving your game.  

Opting out of your season does not mean that the game ends for you. This isn’t a season-long rest period, and while you should 100% be taking rest days for both your physical and mental health, you should also be using this time to fine-tune aspects of your performance you wouldn’t otherwise have time for.  

This is the perfect time for you to break down each aspect of your position in the game and see what needs improvement. Since a lot of professional leagues are operating on some level, you can watch games from an analytic perspective — see how they’re moving and operating and see how it compares to your own tendencies.  

With a lot of smaller scale training options available in most cities (parks, fields, etc.), you’re able to maintain strength while improving mechanics and skill. Be sure to take advantage of that if you’re not playing as part of a team this season.  

Find the Right Coaches 

Having the right coaches on your personal support team adds so much value to your game, both mentally and physically. The right coach will not only provide insights into the physical skills needed to become an elite player, but also help you with the mental skills and finding the discipline that comes along with that. If you’re needing help with something specific but your coaches can only help with a broad view of the game, you’re not going to excel the way you could with a specialized coach. If you’re a pitcher, you need a pitching coach, and if you’re a quarterback, you need a specialized quarterback coach, etc. Coaching isn’t one-size-fits-all, you need the right ones for you and your niche in the game.  

Scoolu makes it easy to connect with top level coaches, even in the midst of a pandemic. Our coaches work through our online platform, which allows you to connect via video, and discuss film or go over plays while still staying safe. We have the pleasure of working with current and former Olympians, Hall-of-Fame athletes, celebrity dancers + choreographers, and NFL and NBA skills coaches, so adding one of our coaches to your personal coaching team will give you hands-on one-on-one experience from someone who truly knows the skills and path to ‘making it’. In a time where your personal development skills are relying on your discipline outside of a team setting, having a strong support system is incredibly important.  

Opting out of your season, like it is for a lot of professional athletes, might be the best idea for yourself and your family, and that’s okay. Opting out does not mean that you’ll be taking an extended rest period— it’s actually quite the opposite. Take the determination and discipline you would’ve brought into the season, and infuse it into your training. Surround yourself with coaches who specialize in every aspect of your game. Click here to learn more.