THE best part of participating in any competition is when an individual goes above and beyond expectation.
BBJ client Caldrine Santos performs a training routine at the BBJ Athletics Camp.
But one does not achieve such a feat without properly preparing physically and mentally prior to the event, said Jerry Diaz, a certified National Academy of Sports Medicine personal trainer.
“During my CNMI national basketball team experience from 2000 to 2006, our team, under the coaching guidance of Rufino Aguon, trained us twice a week in team skills and endurance while building conditioning on two other alternating days,” Diaz said.
When they trained in the evening, he added, they worked on specific skills such as the foundational offensive movements with shooting, passing, dribbling and triple threat precision.
For players who performed specific roles in the game such as the defensive specialists, they worked on lateral defensive slides, whole court suicide sprints and on-ball shadowing, Diaz said.
For the athletes getting ready for the upcoming Pacific Mini Games, Diaz shares this advice: “It is essential to leave no stone unturned when training. It is important for individuals to perform beyond expectations.”
Each individual must be able to reach a specific level of strength related to their competition while ensuring that their body can withstand the pressure, Diaz said.
The goal is to perform at high levels without being fatigued quickly, he added.
Also important is skill-based speed/agility/quickness. This will require intensive conditioning and training, Diaz said.
Also on his list is endurance. And to build endurance an individual must perform high-level, repeated movements. This will require adjusting the length and repetition each week throughout the off-season prior to a competition.
Last but certainly not the least is the ability to recover quickly.
Diaz said an individual must be able to adapt to strenuous and rigorous training sessions
Carldrine Santos, one of Diaz’s clients, recently passed the physical fitness test of the U.S. Army Reserve after four months of training and pushing his body to go above and beyond.
“I start with the end goal in mind especially during the most difficult times,” he said.
For professional fitness inquiries, contact Jerry Diaz through Instagram at @BBJ_Athletics or Facebook.
