Is sunshine and warmer weather inspiring you to get outside and play? Be smart — prepare your body for summer activities, and you’ll be more likely to stay in the game all season.

• Work up a sweat. Brisk walking, jogging, bicycling, and swimming are great ways to get conditioned for any kind of sport. Take it 1 step at a time and gradually extend your time to at least 30 minutes, 5 days a week of cardiovascular exercise.

• Stabilize your core. If you have back pain, ask your healthcare provider for specific exercises to help stabilize your core — your spine, pelvis, and supporting muscles. Otherwise, try some abdominal, back, and hip exercises.

• Strengthen and stretch. Lift weights, try elastic bands or tubing, or even use your own body weight to boost upper- and lower-body strength 2-3 times a week. Include flexibility training after your cardiovascular and strength exercises at least 3 times a week.

• Be specific. Whether it’s fast directional change or hand-eye coordination, the more you practice sport-specific skills, the more proficient you’ll become. Find training drills online or at your local library.