Preseason Training

[Steve#4]

Agree with Franco the UnAmericain. How can players in the Amateur leagues start in bloody November? When does the season start, after Easter? Are they trying to outdo the FFSA or A-League for the longest pre-season in the World?

What about enjoying those sctratch games now that Franco mentions, or 7-a-side or Futsal fun, then start after New Year with a month of torture, followed by friendly practice games in Feb/March?

In all fairness it was Fitz that suggested the above, I just whole heartedly agree with what he is saying.

[Fitz]

Someone once told me:

"Get fit to play the game, don't play the game to get fit"

That is the stupidest quote I've heard for some time. Old fellas kicking about play the game currently 'to keep fit', and for enjoyment.

Play the damn game properly, and you will get fit. Its all about the way you tailor your pre season. If any coach tells me to do a beach run I basically tell them to get cab'd. No benefit whatsoever. However, a session of beach football is different entirely.

Wonder why the Roar are at a higher level of fitness than any other team in the A-League? They do periodisation pre-season, which involves exactly what I mentioned above. They arent busting their butts for 2.5 hours, their sessions are short, incredibly intense (more intense than games) so they run the game out well. Barcelona had their players coming back from holidays around 3 weeks from the start of the season, as they knew that the rest is more beneficial in the long term. Their players were still quite fit come the start of the season, as the follow the periodisation techniques.

Also, not only does periodisation increase the level of football fitness, it decreases the chances of injury, as you arent overloading or overworking tired muscles.

Fitz...What div are you coaching in?

Last year: Sat Div 7(C) and Sunday Div 9 (C2) - same team played two games p/week (I was playing in that side, Im a garbage footballer - came into the game late after growing up in an AFL mad country town, much to my eternal frustration).

This year: Womens Premier League reserves, also U/15 JPL2 side

[Steve#4]

Last year: Sat Div 7(C) and Sunday Div 9 (C2) - same team played two games p/week (I was playing in that side, Im a garbage footballer - came into the game late after growing up in an AFL mad country town, much to my eternal frustration).

This year: Womens Premier League reserves, also U/15 JPL2 side

You would have played against the Vipers C boys then...Pulling the boots on next season or just coaching?

[Con]

Agree with Franco the UnAmericain. How can players in the Amateur leagues start in bloody November? When does the season start, after Easter? Are they trying to outdo the FFSA or A-League for the longest pre-season in the World?

What about enjoying those sctratch games now that Franco mentions, or 7-a-side or Futsal fun, then start after New Year with a month of torture, followed by friendly practice games in Feb/March?

In all fairness it was Fitz that suggested the above, I just whole heartedly agree with what he is saying.

Oops. Acknowledgement to the Fitz. Spot on, Fitz.

[Fitz]

Last year: Sat Div 7(C) and Sunday Div 9 (C2) - same team played two games p/week (I was playing in that side, Im a garbage footballer - came into the game late after growing up in an AFL mad country town, much to my eternal frustration).

This year: Womens Premier League reserves, also U/15 JPL2 side

You would have played against the Vipers C boys then...Pulling the boots on next season or just coaching?

Enjoyed playing against the Vipers boys, decent outfit that didnt get the results they deserved in the first half of year. Our team was pretty woeful, really just a kickabout team as players rarely could train properly (our A and B sides got the pitch to train on), and were also limited technically, with lots of lads who have only played the game a few years, or, in my case, last year was my first.

Not sure as yet. At this stage Im not sure if I have time with two sides (may coach 4 trainings a week, then 2 games Sundays), so I probably wont get a chance to train myself, and therefore would be hesitant to play, as I wont be fit, or have spent time with the ball. If I end up being able to coach and still have time to make club trainings, Ill probably pull the boots on, not sure if I'll play at the same club though as certain people on the committee think the C team should be scrapped. Dont want to retire at 24 but coaching is the priority.

[tibbaw]

That is the stupidest quote I've heard for some time. Old fellas kicking about play the game currently 'to keep fit', and for enjoyment.

Play the damn game properly, and you will get fit. Its all about the way you tailor your pre season. If any coach tells me to do a beach run I basically tell them to get cab'd. No benefit whatsoever. However, a session of beach football is different entirely.

Wonder why the Roar are at a higher level of fitness than any other team in the A-League? They do periodisation pre-season, which involves exactly what I mentioned above. They arent busting their butts for 2.5 hours, their sessions are short, incredibly intense (more intense than games) so they run the game out well. Barcelona had their players coming back from holidays around 3 weeks from the start of the season, as they knew that the rest is more beneficial in the long term. Their players were still quite fit come the start of the season, as the follow the periodisation techniques.

Also, not only does periodisation increase the level of football fitness, it decreases the chances of injury, as you arent overloading or overworking tired muscles.

Fitz...What div are you coaching in?[/quote]

Last year: Sat Div 7(C) and Sunday Div 9 (C2) - same team played two games p/week (I was playing in that side, Im a garbage footballer - came into the game late after growing up in an AFL mad country town, much to my eternal frustration).

This year: Womens Premier League reserves, also U/15 JPL2 side[/quote]

And how did that training technique work for you in those divisions?

While I agree with your methods, you are using examples of a team with 24 professional footballers all striving to be the best they can possibly be. They are used to that training environment, it's their job and they train more than twice a week, and will give their all each and every session. To them a beach run wouldn't be beneficial, but to your average amateur league player, 90% of whom are not even close to peak physical fitness, and have day jobs wearing them out, a simple beach run can go a long way. I do agree that short, high intensity, sessions are better, where you incorporate the ball as much as possible. However, amateurs is a totally different thing, you have to deal with players not turning up, whether that be due to other commitments or simply laziness. You have to deal with completely different attitudes. You have to deal with inferior skills, which negatively impact on the intensity of the sessions. Suddenly the short high intensity sessions are less beneficial. Now add reserve players to the mix, with even worse attitudes and ball skills, which is usually the case in pre-season, suddenly those types of sessions are low intensity, and of less benefit than a simple beach run. No offense, but if you now add you refusing to do the run, then you've just got another narrow minded pain in the arse to deal with as well.

Unfortunately it's easier to just take everyone for a run (obviously not every session) until such time that the squads are split and the men are sorted from the boys, they at least get the benefit of some base fitness throughout all the squads, before structured high intensity sessions using the ball are put in place for the first team. I can be fully match fit, with no pre-season, after only three games by playing the damn game properly so don't get me wrong, I do agree with your methods, and would much prefer to train in that way, but you're just dealing with such different attitudes that the method is extremely difficult to apply to amateurs. It's hard enough to apply in federation. It may work for you, it may work for me, but, aside from maybe Div 1, it won't work for the majority of amateur players.

As for the A-League, I highly doubt it is as simple as that when it comes to Brisbane being fitter. If you know that short high intensity sessions are better than 2.5 hours butt busting sessions, do you really think other A-League coaches don't know that? I learned that in juniors.

[Fitz]

We didnt train like that. We played games, did small interval runs in squares, played small possession games, rugby football (dribble over line/3rd man release over line, stop ball for goal). There were probably 3 players out of our squad of around 16 C graders that were training to be the best they could be. So I trained to what the players were capable of achieving, got them touches on the ball, and somewhat would improve their performance. On Saturdays, I never talk about player rotation or anything like that. I gave them the formation, maybe one specific instruction per player, and we played. I played DM, so that I was in constant communication with them on the field, and it was a fairly enjoyable year. We won some, lost more than we won, but we had fun. The players that wanted to become better players did so because they put more effort in. We had some players who would be coming to games after being on the town the night before til all hours, but hey, thats C Grade. Any trainings you do as a coach should bear in mind the ability of the players, and their mentality. My players were amateurs in every sense of the word, so we ran simple, fun trainings that focus on basic skills.

My example is for an A grade team of any division level. If they are A graders, they should want to play as well as they can. If a SERIOUS coach is at an amateur club that has players who arent there to be SERIOUS fotballers, they shouldnt coach there. Move onto a club with serious players. My observation of the Titans team (especially C's), who I played against last year, was that they had lots of players who want to improve. I gave wombat some information that would help them. Simple as that.

[swannsong]

For three pre-seasons when I was playing Amateurs I just turned up to Federation trainings at Campbelltown (invited along by Jimmy Mitchell), Blackwood (Arthur Ruttley) and Polonia (Joe Larecki). They started pre-season earlier than Amateurs so it helped a little to get my fitness going.
Always find it non-motivating to run without a ball at my feet or involved in a game of some sort.

[Steve#4]

For three pre-seasons when I was playing Amateurs I just turned up to Federation trainings at Campbelltown (invited along by Jimmy Mitchell), Blackwood (Arthur Ruttley) and Polonia (Joe Larecki). They started pre-season earlier than Amateurs so it helped a little to get my fitness going. Always find it non-motivating to run without a ball at my feet or involved in a game of some sort.

100% agree......That was how I always trained in most sports, flog them till they drop preseason and touch a ball with a few weeks to go.

Then we had the pleasure of a coach (a fellow forumite)a couple of years back that focussed on small sided games and more drills including the ball .
I enjoyed pre season and was as fit come round 1 as being flogged previous years.....My passing and touch was better than ever for that time of year.

[swannsong]

Here's an idea for toning up prior to season 2012.
Mind you, plenty on these forums would use a similar technique aleady !

[Fitz]

My advice for anyone on here in regards to following any program, would be to get the amatuer players' pre-season program from Raymond Verheijen's website, or twitter. It always involves a ball, and is specifically designed for amateur athletes and coaches that want to prepare better, whilst minimising injury.

[leo64]

good to see your learning fitz the course is working mate.

[Fitz]

always leo64! and happy to share such learnt information. after all, it will only improve the standard of the game.

[leo64]

you coaching fitz

[Fitz]

you coaching fitz

yep, have Olympic Women's Ressies, and in Croydon Junior's also.

[wombat]

Adelaide Titans FC will be conducting 1 hour fitness sessions every Thursday at 6.30pm commencing on 3 November 2011. Please meet at Collins Reserve, Valetta Road, Kidman Park.

These sessions are optional and are not part of the official preseason training which is likely to commence in January 2012. The sessions will focus on running and core strength activities.

If you are interested in playing for the Club next season and want to help get in shape ready for preseason, please come along. Feel free to let others who may be interested know also.

We look forward to seeing many of you at these sessions.

[Rampant Antagonism]

How many threads do you need to post this.

[I Love Food]

are many clubs starting to have a kick around once week followed up with a beer or two after?????

[Steve#4]

are many clubs starting to have a kick around once week followed up with a beer or two after?????

Vipers have been for the last 3 weeks....The younger lads are so keen they started a Sunday kick as well..

[manu16]

Vale 18 Jan 7.00Pm

[BlueBalls]

many clubs started yet?

[I Love Food]

Went for a run and a kick lastnight with the boys, can hardly walk to day. LOL. But the beer was ok after, again LOL.

[TheBeogradGeneral]

Beograd boys are having a kick around with a group of brazillians on Thur nights.

Solid turnout we usually get about 20 guys out.

Gets pretty competitive too

We wish we had more players out though

[swannsong]

Beograd boys are having a kick around with a group of brazillians on Thur nights.

Solid turnout we usually get about 20 guys out.

Gets pretty competitive too

We wish we had more players out though

Depending on how much I get done around home tomorrow, I might get down to Woodville to observe and catch up with taffarel !

[Paleon Patros Germanos]

Kick abouts atb the ground or at the park next to it?

[taffarel]

Beograd boys are having a kick around with a group of brazillians on Thur nights.

Solid turnout we usually get about 20 guys out.

Gets pretty competitive too

We wish we had more players out though

Depending on how much I get done around home tomorrow, I might get down to Woodville to observe and catch up with taffarel !

You're welcome any Thursday Swanny. Make sure you bring the gloves.

[Wraith]

Beograd boys are having a kick around with a group of brazillians on Thur nights.

Solid turnout we usually get about 20 guys out.

Gets pretty competitive too

We wish we had more players out though

Where?

And are you guys having C's this season?

[Knight15]

Was having a kick a bout on Wednesday night and Galaxy turned up to train next to us. They didn't touch a ball for the whole 90 mins

Understand they need to get fit but really 90 minutes no ball work is just silly

[Caretaker Coach]

Was having a kick a bout on Wednesday night and Galaxy turned up to train next to us. They didn't touch a ball for the whole 90 mins

Understand they need to get fit but really 90 minutes no ball work is just silly

I agree, why do some coaches continue to do that ? How many coaches ran their players into the ground last pre season, and the teams got nowhere ? Do they think it is all about endurance ?

I thought the game was all about that round thing, which is about 70 cms ( 26" ) diameter and weighs about 420 grams ( 15oz ).

[taffarel]

Beograd boys are having a kick around with a group of brazillians on Thur nights.

Solid turnout we usually get about 20 guys out.

Gets pretty competitive too

We wish we had more players out though

Where?

And are you guys having C's this season?

That is on Beograd ground (55 Minns St, Woodville West, SA, 5011). Not sure if Beograd will have a C team this year.