The Nicholls softball team began their off-season training this week with the image of the Southland Conference Tournament still fresh in their minds.

The Colonels closed out their 2016 season with 39 wins, the most for the program since 1998, and with their first post-season victory since the 2008 SLC Tournament.

The players took part in their typical fall fitness test on Monday, which is comprised of a series of shuttle runs. The shuttle in its entirety encompasses 300 yards and is split up in two ways. The first 300-yard shuttle is split up every 100 yards, forcing the players to cut back and forth three times. This must be completed in 60 seconds. The next shuttle is still 300 yards long but the players must turn every 50 yards for a total of 6 turns, and complete the shuttle in 66 seconds.

Head Coach Angel Santiago said the variation in turns in the shuttles allows the players to challenge themselves and see where their fitness level stands before being assessed by their Strength Coach, Adam Marso. With Marso, the team will go through a sequence of strength training tests, which include 1-rep maxes for bench press, back squat and power clean.

While NCAA regulations permit Santiago and his team to practice for 8 hours each week in their off-season, they will be able to train for 20 hours each week approximately two weeks before they compete in their fall games. These regulations ensure the athletes get the appropriate rest period they need before diving back into team practices and preparing for game play.

Besides playing scrimmage games against themselves, the Colonels will face teams from other schools this fall such as Jones Community College and McNeese. The softball team will also compete on the road as they travel to Alabama to play Faulkner State Community College and the University of West Florida in Pensacola.

Although the off-season is a time for athletes to refocus and set goals for the upcoming season, it is evident that Santiago and his athletes will be putting in the work now to ensure another run in the SLC Tournament come spring.

“Now is the time for us to get better and to get more in shape,” Santiago said. “Now is the time for us to take care of the little things.”