How we de-load and why

This week is a de-load week at our gym, which we have every 4 weeks. The purpose of this is improve overall athleticism and performance. We reduce the loads, shorten the training sessions, and correct technique. Since we normally push extremely hard in our training, de-loading is sometimes a hard concept to grasp. People are "creatures of habit" and some still try to go hard and heavy during de-load. Which means either they are simply not following instructions or they just don't "get it". During de-load we are in the active recovery mode. We want to keep good blood flow going to the fatigued muscles, improve range of motion, and joint mobility. Extra soft tissue work on foam rollers is advised as well as post-workout stretching. One other vital thing is sleep, and this is one thing the athletes have to be accountable to themselves about. I've heard people brag about how little sleep they get, as if it's something to be proud of. You can't function well in a sleep-deprived state over the course of time. A good, focused effort is still required during de-load week (it's not a week to goof off) and it's not an excuse to miss a week of training. That's how we de-load and why. I hope you find this helpful.