6 Answers to the Question 'How To Make Pre-Season Different This Year?'
- June 20th, 2018
- Tom Bean
Pre-season is widely regarding as a daunting period for players, full of punishing sessions to get you fit and ready for the season. Whereas, at Sportplan, we like to think of it as an exciting period for players and coaches alike to build new relationships, learn new skills and develop physically so that when that first game of the season comes around, you're ready to take it by storm.
1. What should be our aims be for pre-season?
Pre-season isn't about beasting your players physically. We like to split our programme into three sections to focus on in order to produce a well-rounded team at the end of it. Firstly, physical fitness is an obvious necessity. Second tactical awareness, ensure that all the players are aware of how the team will play. And lastly, team spirit is an absolute must and what we think is the most important thing to develop in the build-up to the season.
2. How often should we be training during pre-season?
At Sportplan, we appreciate that players can be away for certain weeks and have other commitments during the off-season so having a full squad for the duration is a tough ask. However, it's important to get as much of a routine as possible during the programme. Two or three sessions a week will be enough to fit in what you need to plus we're great advocates for setting some homework so players keep up their levels outside of the sessions. There are a number of different fitness apps players can use to record their results.
3. What do the sessions look like?
Physical sessions will include plenty of running to build general aerobic and anaerobic fitness that is specific to your own sport. But don't get bogged down in just running to help build your teams physical fitness, mix it up! Use some HIIT sessions to develop fitness as well as strength, not only is it a great way to reduce the chances of injuries but it keeps things interesting too.
Tactical sessions can incorporate a degree of fitness training, however is more about making sure the team understands different plays, presses and formations. We love getting our players into the classroom and splitting them into smaller groups too. Encourage talk between the players about the things we're working on so everyone gets a voice and clarity as to the aims for the season. By learning from each other in the classroom, the same will translate onto the pitch or court!
Team spirit isn't something that just happens, it is something that needs just as much training as physical fitness itself. It is something that can be worked on the whole time the group are together; during the ultra-difficult running sessions, in the smaller groups within the classroom and even in the bar after, it can always be improved.
4. How do we know the sessions are working?
Regular testing is a great way to record how the team are progressing and if anyone needs an extra boost of motivation to get them up to speed. It is massively important to understand when players need to rest and when to push them; the last thing we want is for our players to be burnt out by the first competitive game! Laying out a good plan in advance is the best way to see where players may need a break and when to push them.
Pre-season friendlies need to be booked in as early as possible so you can get as much of your squad together as possible to work on the things you have been talking about in your groups on the pitch and in the classroom. A game day will give you a great indication of match-fitness, tactical awareness and just how everybody acts and integrates with one another in a higher pressure situation. It's a brilliant tool to determine just how your team spirit is coming along too!
5. We've got new players joining the squad. How do we get them to fit in as smooth as possible?
The modern thing for teams to do is to create a leadership group. As a group of 3 or 4 of the more experienced players, it is a great tool to introduce new players to the teams values and expectations as well as help integrate them amongst the rest of the squad. Something we love to encourage is to give the leadership group responsibility in a buddying-type system.
The system will allow new and less-experienced players a pathway to express any worries or queries they may have without having to go straight to the top, a daunting prospect for some. By providing everyone with a voice early in pre-season, it will encourage confidence in every member of the team. With these relationships throughout the squad, coaches and leaders will have the opportunity to lead through assurance and trust, rather than authority.
6. How do we know the sessions are working?
Firstly, get your players away from the pitch or the court and bring them together in a different environment where they can build relationships outside of the sport. Whether it is a trip away or a day outside of the normal environment they meet it, it's a perfect way to create relationships; plus it keeps pre-season exciting and is something to look forward to during the hard work.
Building trust and confidence amongst team mates and coaches builds a healthy culture within the team so that when the going gets tough, the team has the strength to get together and ride it.
So often, we see players put off by pre-season as they have a preconception of running, running, running but at Sportplan, we want to change the misconceptions! Let's make it fun!