Stretch To Win - The Importance of Stretching
All too often as I am sitting in the alleyway of the NXL getting ready for a match, I see one of two things. Teams that are just quietly pacing through the pits about to get ready for their match and teams that are stretching and getting their head in the zone. If we are ever to be taken seriously as a sport, we have to treat it like an actual sport!
It should be noted, Paintball is no different than any other sport that you compete in. We are running, diving, sliding, let alone putting our body in all different types of positions based on where we play on the field. Yet players believe that their bodies are invincible to the elements, let alone the forces that are brought upon them after four prelim matches.
Undoubtedly, players must understand that adding some warmup activities before the matches will not only help with injury prevention, but it will also allow for the players to be at the best of their game. It has been scientifically proven that if an athlete primes their body for the activity they are about to do, the likelihood for an injury is significantly reduced and performance is severely increased.
Nevertheless, it's not too late to get started taking care of your body before and after the matches you have. Make sure to add dynamic warmups before your matches and pairing it with static ones after matches to help alleviate some of that soreness. Dynamic stretching is a movement-based type of stretching. Static stretches are those in which you stand, sit or lie still and hold a single position for a period of time, up to about 45 seconds. Try out this next routine the next time you head out to the field for practice or a tournament.
DYNAMIC ROUTINE:
(Each movement will be done for 20 seconds each)
2-3 minute jog
Jumping Jacks
Arm Circlers Forwards/Backwards
Toe Touches
Butt Kicks
Lunge with a trunk twist
STATIC ROUTINE:
Forward Fold
Arm across the body with arm behind the head
Straddle
Deep Squat, Hip Opener
Downward Facing Dog
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