Galen Harkness • May 14, 2025
Train Like a Pro This Summer: Lessons from Caitlin Clark’s Offseason
Summer is the season where real growth happens.
Summer is the season where real growth happens.
For serious high school basketball players, this isn’t the time to coast. It’s the time to separate yourself. If you want to take your game to the next level, take a page from WNBA star Caitlin Clark’s offseason playbook.
Here’s what she focused on—and how you can apply it this summer:
1. Get Stronger to Play Stronger
The game only gets more physical at higher levels. Caitlin Clark used her offseason to build strength so she could handle contact, maintain her balance, and stay efficient even when tired.
You can do the same:
Bodyweight strength work like pushups, squats, lunges, and planks builds a powerful base.
Core strength helps you finish through contact and protect the ball under pressure.
Strong legs = better defense, more explosiveness, and more consistency in your shot.
This summer, commit to strength training 2–3 days per week.
2. Recovery Is Part of Training
Recovery is not just for pros—it’s what allows you to train hard again the next day. Clark’s offseason wasn’t just about grinding—it was about taking care of her body with sleep, nutrition, hydration, stretching, and downtime.
What does recovery look like for you?
Go to bed early.
Drink water throughout the day.
Take time to stretch, roll out, and cool down.
Don’t train yourself into the ground—train to be consistent.
Recovery helps you show up every day with energy and focus.
3. Work on Game-Specific Skills
Clark didn’t just shoot 1,000 shots a day. She trained the shots she actually takes in games: pull-ups, deep threes, quick releases, contact finishes, tight handle under pressure.
This is where most players fall short—they train skills in perfect settings instead of game situations.
This summer:
Add contact to finishing drills.
Practice handling under pressure, not just cones.
Get game-speed reps on your shot.
Compete in 1v1, 2v2, 3v3 as much as you can.
Your training should look like the game you want to play.
4. Put It All Together
Clark’s offseason success wasn’t magic—it was a smart, consistent plan. She got stronger. She recovered with purpose. She trained her game with intensity.
You can do the same.
Strength builds your body.
Recovery protects it.
Skill work sharpens your game.
This summer, train with a purpose—not just sweat, but skill.
Final Thought:
The offseason is where players are made. The ones who train smart, recover well, and stay consistent will come back in the fall stronger, sharper, and more confident.
You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to keep showing up and doing the work.
Whenever you're ready, here are 3 ways EYG Basketball can help you this summer:
Committed Skills Academy – Weekly high-level skills training for players who want consistent work on ball-handling, finishing, shooting, and playmaking.
Summer Camps – Fun, challenging, and competitive camps in Superior, Northglenn, and Longmont. 1v1 to 3v3 play every day.
Training Memberships – Serious about your game? Memberships are for players who want more. Train 2–3 times per week with a structured plan and coaching.
Check out all our summer training options at www.eygbball.com
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