By Richard Lee - 29/05/2008
Off-season Training
For those of you out there who have wondered what a summer of a footballer consists of, i thought that this week I’d share with you what it entails.
This is the only time of the season when we can have an extended break so most of the lads take the opportunity to go abroad and unwind. The break tends to be in the region of six weeks or so but that can change depending on play-offs etc.
We are all given individual programmes which we are asked to keep to so that when we return we are in the right condition to begin training at a reasonable level. Many believe pre-season is the time to get fit but, in truth, if you were to enter pre-season lacking in fitness then there’s a good chance you wouldn’t make it through what's a really demanding time.
The training is very intense and the risk of injury is substantially higher if you haven’t taken care of yourself over the break.
The initial two weeks of the holiday is complete rest though. The body won’t have had much time to rest during the season so it is believed that by giving the body two full weeks it should help to take care of any niggling injuries that will undoubtedly have been picked up along the way.
For me in particular, I felt completely drained for a good few days. It can be tough to fully switch off during the season; even on a day off you know you have training the next day and games coming up will often limit the extent of your activities that day. It’s something of a strange feeling to have the knowledge that you aren’t being monitored for six weeks or so.
I’ve often used this time of the season to do training that I wouldn’t otherwise be able to do due to games. For instance, I’ll often do intensive weight sessions or, as I have done the past couple of years, go outside and spend hours on end striking balls.
This year we are due to report back on July 7th. I’m set to go away this Saturday for a couple of weeks with my girlfriend and then, when I get back, I’m off again With Alec and Ben for a few days of golf, so it should be a decent break.
Once I return from that I’ll be sure to up my training in preparation for the season ahead! It’ll soon be here...