FITNESS

As football becomes faster and more physical, fitness is becoming more of an issue within the game.

Academy Training Facilities

Gone are the days when the first-team, reserves or Academy teams simply go for a five or six mile run to prepare for the rigours ahead.Our approach to fitness is not about running, running and more running. It's all about football related fitness, co-ordination, quick feet, balance, speed of thought, reactions, pure speed, power, strength and stamina.

When it comes to fitness with the young players it is about `developing' and what is `age appropriate'. For example, we do not `run' our young school age players until they go through their main growth spurt, because at this age they will get no benefit.

What we do instead is work on a player's quick feet, their balance and reactions and their co-ordination. Because they are training to play football, we bring a ball into these drills to achieve sport-specific fitness.

During pre-season, we implement a cross-training programme for our full-time Academy players which means the boys will be participating in events such as swimming, cycling, aerobic classes, boxercise and even possibly spending two or three days at an army camp.

The majority of the running they do is kept within the dimensions of a football pitch - football related fitness.

As the season progresses, we test the boys for speed, power, agility and stamina and look at the physical development of each player. From these tests the players are given their own, tailored weight and personal development programme which is monitored throughout the season.

Everything the first-team does conditioning wise, we adapt towards the Academy from special agility quickness to power work. We also employ Lee O'Neill, our sports science conditioning coach, who works with the Academy on a part-time basis.

During all our physical training sessions with the Academy players, we try to educate them in the reasons for their participation in fitness drills. It is important for them to understand what they are doing and that we are all working towards the same goal - to get them physically ready to play for the first-team.

Simon Thadani
Fitness Coach

MEDICAL

Academy Physio Mark Endacott in action

Football is now played at a quicker pace than ever before and being an impact sport with more demands being placed upon an individual in the game, we acknowledge that the risk of injury is greatly increased. This applies at Academy level, especially at the older age groups, as well as at first-team status and any injury received by an Academy player is dealt with by the same team in the same manner as if they were a first-team professional.

Each of our physiotherapists is fully qualified (Chartered) and they ensure effective and safe assessment, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation.  There is a team approach to player care. Initially all players are screened by the Academy doctor. Injuries are treated by the physiotherapists with referral to relevant consultants for any further medical intervention required.

A physiotherapist will be present at all training sessions and matches. All Academy coaches are also first aid trained.

Every effort is made to ensure that the players develop in a safe and injury free environment.

Mark Endacott
Academy Physiotherapist