Pre Season

Its that time of the year when all clubs are on full force in trainings and camps. Pre season in soccer practically mean prearing the team to endure the season long matches and to be able to maintain the peak among the players and also reducing injuries. There has been many authors with various ways, two particular i follow is Bangsbo and Verheijen. These two in my opinion are different but comes to the same conclusion. One is traditional but adjusting to the new era in football and one is the modern way of training which many want to disagree when deep down they know it is true. in this context I will speak of a 6 week pre season 

So what is done in pre season, first of all is PHYSICAL FITNESS. Current situation most players come back with some excess weight gained from the holidays. Back here is also the same story. Yes not all but majority that’s the case. Secondly comes Match Fitness. This is where the most of it is lost. After a long lay off, Players will lose their touch more or less. This is why friendly matches are slot in the plans. These games initial are less competitive and playing time is gradually increase. One reason we see coaches changing a full set of players during half time. Match fitness is regained gradually over matches, hence one needs not to play all of 90 minutes. 

WHY? because is not productive because with the intense physical training and DOUBLE SESSIONS in pre season plus playing the whole 90 min will just increase the risk of injury and fatigue the players. 

So what shall we do in Pre season?For a start, players are starting the off season with strength training. In this component its broken to three parts:

• Basic muscle power training: To increase muscle mass, strength and power.

• Transference power training: To improve the ability to perform maximal or near-maximal football related movements. 

• Football power training: To improve power output during intense actions in a game. 

What kind of exercise depends on the players you have in regards of age, sex, age of training, technique mastery, individual demands and preference.  

more to come.......