As the research and technology drives the fitness industry forward, what is the next step for football clubs in the way they develop their fitness plans. Every sports scientist is looking for the next ground breaking method that will help give any athlete or sports team the extra edge to beat their opponent. The foundation to all fitness will always be nutrition.
Nutrition will always play a huge part is fitness as the old saying goes ‘we are what we eat’. When Arsene Wenger first arrived at Arsenal Football Club, he completely changed the nutritional delivery for the whole club. He got players eating a healthier diet which, in turn, had a positive influence on the way the players played on the pitch. From this change, the rest of the Premier League then followed suit and put more of a focus on their nutritional plans.
In terms of football fitness training, football teams have always followed a similiar fitness programme throughout the course of a season: pre-season, in-season and off-season. Pre-season training will always focus on bringing players fitness levels up for the start of the season. In-season will consist of maintaining the fitness levels of each member of the team and working on tactical plays depending on the opponents they face. Off-season will be a rest period for the team to let their bodies rest and prevent fatigue and burnout.
What is next for football training? Nutrition and fitness delivery is always being researched, developed and challenged about which method may best suit certain individuals. The Villarreal coach, Marcelino, has put a very scientific approach this season on developing his players fitness levels. Firstly, like Arsene Wenger, he changed the nutritional delivery which meant weight loss of 56 kilograms throughout the whole team which meant that were sharper. Secondly, he broke down the teams fitness in terms of their role on the pitch. Midfielders were given a more aerobic training schedule, whereas forwards focused on more of an intensive fitness regime to match the type of work they do on the pitch.
Could it be the case that teams in the future will develop specific fitness schedules for each position on the pitch? And would this improve the team as a whole?