Are you a professional athlete or a student seeking to improve performance in a sport? Read on, for tips on how to improve your overall fitness and performance in different sports. Think yourself lucky because there is no dearth of good training institutes for sportspersons today, unlike in the past. If you are a good sportsperson, you are also likely to receive grants that can help you pay the costs of sport specific training.

Most of the reputed institutes providing sport specific training have a low instructor-to- student ratio so that students get individual attention. However, this does not mean that a student always exercises or practices in isolation. Training in a group is also provided to help participants imbibe the correct technique, depending upon the nature of the sport specific exercise.

These training programs can last several weeks and are conducted on the basis of a lesson plan, which usually includes warm up exercise, gym time, running, and swimming. Most amateur athletes face injury because they do not train under qualified professionals. This also hampers their chance of becoming professionals. At a training institute you will be constantly guided by a trainer and your progress monitored. You will be taught how to improve running mechanics, start, and skips. You will also be put through quickness drills to improve reflexes and react explosively.

Whether you are a professional or an amateur, consider the following points before and during training

- Go for a program that is suitable for your needs and abilities; just don't join a program because your friends have joined it

- Enjoy your training; don't worry about graphs and charts unless you are a professional athlete

- Choose your pace, and let the trainer know if you are being pushed too hard; its your body after all

- Look for variation, that is, exercises should vary through the day and across days. This will prevent boredom and inefficiency from setting in due to the same routine

- If you miss out exercise on a particular day, just take it casually; loss of one session will not hamper your prospects

- Use proper equipment and sports gear

- Set realistic goals after assessing your potential

- Be patient and don't expect fabulous results after training a couple of weeks. Consistency and avoidance of overstrain will pay off in the long run

It is not only athletes or soccer players who require sport specific training, even golfers, who engage in comparatively less physical activity require training to improve fitness, reduce injury, and enhance technique.