JERRY Diaz, a certified National Academy of Sports Medicine personal trainer, recounted how he and the rest of his basketball team prepared for a week-long competition on Guam.
“It was a March Madness event, and we played five consecutive high-level competitive games,” he said. His team, Hoopaholics All Stars, played against CNMI National, Guam National, Guam Jr. National, Army/Air Force Bombers and Guam All Stars.
Diaz said in preparing for the tournament, their checklist included strength conditioning, weight level, sporting skills specific to the competition and mindset.
He said they performed game-like movements with light to moderate intensity and made sure they got enough rest afterward. As for their food, it had to provide them with enough fuel for the competition.
“We also mentally prepared and visualized the actual competition,” Diaz said. “We played it out in our minds and we all tried to get in sync as a team.”
Now as trainer, Diaz prepares individuals for an MMA match, an Army physical test or Boot Camp, a beauty pageant, obstacle courses, among other events and competitions.
Diaz recommends 4-6 months of progressive preparation. “Essential needs must be identified and assessed,” he said. “We want to progress and peak at the right time. Of course, the actual approach varies depending on the individual’s lifestyle and the competition he or she is preparing for.”
Diaz said he usually focuses on strength and conditioning intensity, nutrition, rest and recovery, and mindfulness.
He said he and his client will first perform light warmups and avoid energy loss and unnecessary soreness or fatigue.
As for food intake, Diaz said it should help an individual maintain optimal energy levels. This may mean sticking with what is already working for the individual and avoiding food that a person’s body system is not familiar with, he added.
Diaz said rest and recovery are also important. An individual must take time to rest and recover, and this should include a hot/cold bath, a nap and a good sleep. The body needs time to heal and recover to be ready for the next day.
Fourth on Diaz’s list is mindfulness. This involves visualizing how the event will take place, including the time of the event, who the competition are, and the readiness level needed to succeed.
For professional fitness inquiries, contact Jerry Diaz through Instagram at @BBJ_Athletics or Facebook.
Robbie Schorr with NMI tennis coach Jeff Race during a break from a 2022 Pacific Mini Games tennis match at an American Memorial Park tennis court last week.
