What comes after sprinting?

[paddydalton]

Hi,

I train a southern amateur league club with players ranging from 16 through to 35. My training consists of a light warm - up, some sprint/fitness work, circuits and lots of work on the ball. My question is... what is the immediate best thing to do with my players once they've been through the sprint drills and before they get into small sided games etc etc.

Paddy.

[Mike]

hi paddy

sprinting is hard work, so they will need a recovery period. as the muscles have been severly stretched in the sprinting process, they will nedd gentle stretching during the recovery period. it might be better to to do the ball work and games, before they do the sprint and circuit work. that way they won't be a tired doing the ball and playing the games - resulting in better quality. after the sprinting and circuit work, make sure they put on warm clothing, tracksuit bottom etc, rehydrate and have a good warm down, with lots of gentle stretching. a good warm down which canm also help rid the body of lactic acid is to get them on their bak in the cycling position and gently cycle with legs in the air. you can also do legs in the air shaking. this will allow gravity to help rid the body of lactic acid. it will also give you an opprtunity to do an abdom session.

All the best

[thevillan]

Sorry to P on your fire but the lactic acid theory is that it is not a problem. It is the hydrogen ions that are the problem and lactic acid is now seen as beneficial!! Stop the world - I want to get off!

[Coachkev]

Mike,
Arsene Wenger changed the culture of sprint work for ever when he arrived at Arsenal.
He instigated a regime of all-out work for 2 mins only then 5 mins rest.
The work had to be 100% whether sprinting or ball work.
This went on for the hour with decreasing rest time, but quality of work still retained.
Work 2 mins sprints Rest 5 mins
Work 2 mins ball work Rest 5 mins
Work 2 mins sprints Rest 5 mins
Work 2 mins ball work Rest 5 mins
Work 2 mins sprints Rest 4 mins
Work 2 mins ball work Rest 4 mins
Work 2 mins sprints Rest 3 mins
Work 2 mins ball work Rest 3 mins
Work 2 mins sprints Rest 3 mins
Work 2 mins ball work Rest 3 mins

[Guy Williams]

Hello Paddy why not use a ball when working on sprints coerver drills are brilliant any muppet can run faster but can he run fast with the ball give me a shout if you need some drills. PLYOMETRICS is also great work after you have warmed the players up thouroghly. PLYOMETRICS IS ABOUT REPITITION AND USING YOUR BODY WEIGHT TO ENHANCE YOUR PHYSICAL CAPABILITES.

[Jerzy]

^^^^^How early do you start doing plyometrics with kids, and what sort of things do you do with your kids? I was talking to a successful coach round here, and he'd mentioned that his boys were doing plyometrics at the local YMCA for the offseason, but didn't mention what he'd do during the spring season.

[Val]

Originally Posted by Coachkev

Mike,
Arsene Wenger changed the culture of sprint work for ever when he arrived at Arsenal.
He instigated a regime of all-out work for 2 mins only then 5 mins rest.
The work had to be 100% whether sprinting or ball work.
This went on for the hour with decreasing rest time, but quality of work still retained.

But looking over Arsenal's continued injuries woes this season, I'm wondering if this change is a good thing, we pick up more niggling injuries that seemingly last for weeks in practise than any other team. Either that or we've got the worst group of trainers in the Premiership.

[Guy Williams]

I don't think that Arsene Wenger has got it wrong see Chelsea, Newcastle ete,etc, Arsene Wenger is working with younger players who are still developing and passing and moving the Arsenal way is very exhausting. Play games make small sided games in very small grids they will work hard especially if 2v2 with goals and its fun plyometrics with a 3v3 with a ball and a goal at the end of a sprint if you want some more i will send some over.

[LOCKMAN]

How far do you call a sprint?

would 40 m be o.k

[ian.curry]

The typical football sprint is between 10 and 50 yards, and the vast majority last between 1 and 4 seconds.
I love practising sprints with my lads, and believe that the shorter ones are more important - eg 6 and 12 yards. That is where the nitty gritty of football occurs, whethers its beating the defender to the ball, chasing back, sprinting in for a corner.