The Right Place, At the Right Time……..

The Right Place, At the Right Time……..Thoughts from the Sporting Director

A player told me this past week she was “stressed” over the continuing fitness work at both her club, and now her high school. She was visibly upset over it “if I don’t pass the tests, I won’t play – the coach has been clear”! Ill leave the psychological piece for another time (although I don’t understand the point at all of threatening a youth player). The conversation left me to ponder the importance, or lack thereof of dedicating so much to one element of the game.

Surely arriving at the right place at the right time is more important, no? 

Physiological literacy is key in player movement and the game itself. I am not suggesting that fitness is not an important part of football, but I do ponder if it is ever the determining factor in matches.

When I think about physiological prowess, I think of longevity opposed to pace or strength. Recently retired (at 39) Carli Lloyd, Cristiano Ronaldo, Zlatan Ibrahimović and others come to mind when I think of fitness. But the secret in them has to be held around nutrition and psychological toughness that separate the few?

Watching players that have succinct ability to find the right place at the right time is a better reflection of the game in my opinion. The players that can read the game and technically execute with both feet on the floor and in the air. Those that control the game through innate understanding of football, timing and movement are the players to aspire too.

After all, team are always defined by the style of the play, not the physicality of it. Special players (see Ngolo Kante, Tobin Heath, Xavi) decide the outcome of games, they decide the un of the match and dominate through skill and intellect.

Setting up youth players to be “fit” without an end in mind make zero sense. Specific physiological work, appropriate the age and gender of the player however is key, but should not by the entire premise of the training session. For example, it is perfectly sensible to have forward players making short, sharp, full pelt runs specific to area during training as they do so in a match. That can be accomplished with the simplicity of training the player in a space appropriate for them – having the run 120 in a straight line or consistent beep tests makes no sense at all.

As for the training session itself, it should be there to teach, educate and inspire. The base of which should be economical training in a positive and enjoyable environment.  Small-sided matches with specific goals and outcomes are incredibly positive. The players are making real time football decisions, under the specific guide of movements that are physiologically appropriate for the player. Also, players, especially younger will learn whilst enjoying the game itself. Repetition, in different scenarios will find the fitness element!

Final thoughts: Maybe focusing on the specific of ‘Bigger, Stronger & Faster’ is good once we have mastered technical literacy? Teaching a player to at the right place at the right time is harder, but more worthwhile!