Herding cattle‚ taking the kids to and from school‚ helping out with homework‚ changing hair colour‚ partying the night away or going back home to find that your parents are waiting with a list full of chores.

These are some of the things footballers get up to during the off-season.

It’s a time players use to spoil themselves with trips around the world‚ to go wild‚ stay up late with friends and spend time with family.

Others‚ like Khama Billiat of Mamelodi Sundowns‚ spend the time trying to figure out what hairstyle would make them stand out in a crowd and somehow find that going blonde is the way to go.

It will at least match the Sundowns kit if Billiat keeps his hair colour for the start of the season.

Good friends Kermit Erasmus and Mame Niang of Orlando Pirates and Sundowns took the first flight out of the country (after the Nedbank Cup final) to Paris for a week-long holiday with their families.

Sundowns midfielder Hlompho Kekana was one of those fortunate supporters at Camp Nou who witnessed one of the greatest goals scored by Barcelona genius Lionel Messi in the Copa del Rey final last weekend.

He posted a picture on Instagram with the caption “I was a witness” and he’s now back home in Zebediela‚ herding cattle and jogging everyday.

He’s probably looking forward to returning to Chloorkop to tell his teammates about the magic of the world’s best footballer.

For Swallows goalkeeper Greg Etafia‚ who experienced the pain of relegation with the Dube Birds‚ the off-season is a time to spend with kids.

He has to check homework a lot more to make sure answers are correct and that the books are signed and packed in bags‚ ready for school the next day.

Spending time with kids will cheer him up after a miserable season with his club.

“Normally we do not have much time to spend with the kids because we are always on the road. Now I take them to school and when they come back‚ they find me at home.

“I help with homework. You don’t always get that time you need with the kids‚ so this period is very important. It’s special‚” Etafia says.

The level-headed players‚ who are not into blowing their money on the latest BMW or Mercedes Benz‚ focus on securing a life for themselves after football.

“Some players have businesses and they try to organise for life after football because we all know we are not going to play forever‚” says Sundowns defender Ramahlwe Mphahlele‚ who spent time with family in GaMphahlele‚ a village in Limpopo‚ before going on a “mini holiday”.

Diets tend to go out the window during off-season for those who cannot discipline themselves.

One burger or pizza too much and the scale will tell the story during the medicals when pre-season starts.

“It’s compulsory to watch what you eat and how often you eat it‚” Bidvest Wits right back Siyabonga Nhlapo says.

“You can have a burger here and there‚ but you can’t eat it everyday. It’s not easy to stay on a strict diet‚ but you have to be disciplined‚” he adds.

And off-season does not necessarily mean being a couch potato.

“I play indoor football to keep myself fit and I do gym work‚” Nhlapo says.

“But I usually use the off-season to visit and catch up with people I do not get to spend time with during the season. I get to see old friends.”