The Book
Details the methodology and rationale behind the ‘Fit For Every Game’ philosophy and highlights every aspect of training that contributes to optimal performance and player availability.
Overview
The Book
Split into four main categories; Planning, Prevention, Conditioning & Regeneration, together with multiple sub-categories, ‘Fit For Every Game’ consists of underpinning scientific principles, logical processes, real life examples and includes many practical tools.
Planning
Planning is an essential process to ensure that every effort is made to achieve the aim and objectives of your training philosophy. Good planning provides a long-term, medium-term, and short-term framework for the team and creates a reference point to then plan for each individual within the team over the course of the season. The term given to the process of planning every training session and every game each week over the course of a season is periodisation.
Periodisation is more commonly associated with an individual athlete preparing for competition. In this instance, the goal is to train in cycles in order to make significant training gains to peak at a particular event. Although this is more difficult in football, as there is a need to peak every game, there is no reason why the principles of periodisation cannot be implemented successfully in football.
Key learning outcomes of the planning chapter include:
Prevention
Prevention is always better than cure and is a vital component of any training philosophy, particularly if you are to achieve the aim of having every player fit for every game. Whilst the dynamic nature of football itself places players at potential risk of injury, almost every injury is avoidable when common sense is applied – and combined with sound training methods.
Having a clear training model will undoubtedly reduce the risk of injuries if implemented correctly, but before commencing any form of team training, it is important that coaches and support staff alike do their due diligence, and consider any other aspects that will complement the approach in preventing injury and optimising performance.
Key learning outcomes of the prevention chapter include:
Conditioning
There are many different opinions regarding how teams should train and what a typical training week should consist of – all with merits and shortcomings. Providing there is sound rationale behind the philosophy, players remain injury-free, and maintain a high level of performance throughout the season, it may be argued that the correct approach is being implemented.
Regardless of the approach being implemented, it is important to consider the impact of every component of each and identify how players are likely to be responding each day and, therefore, what type of training should be implemented to fulfil the aims and objectives of the training philosophy.
Key learning outcomes of the conditioning chapter include:
Regeneration
Whenever a player performs explosive actions, because the demand for energy is high, energy stores are rapidly depleted, muscles are damaged, and waste is produced that can cause further damage if it is not removed. Strategies that accelerate the regeneration process should, therefore, form part of every player’s daily routine.
Furthermore, while such strategies are essential to keep all players free from injury, it is also important to consider the regeneration and rehabilitation of any players that sustain an injury in order to accelerate their recovery and ensure safe reintegration to training.
Key learning outcomes of the regeneration chapter include: