Are Coaches Making You Slower after Football Games?


I thought about what we did in college after a game. Then again, that depended on whether we won or lost. We generally watched some film, which was equally as brutal as the run afterwards. We would get ripped apart about not being where we were supposed to be on different plays. But it did teach us a lot about the game of football. My problem was the coaches running us into the ground as their way of relieving the soreness from Saturday’s games.

It does not make sense now that I know better. After a game, most football players are sore from the heavy lactic acid build up in their muscles, the knots in the muscles from tissue damage, and mentally drained. The last thing you want to do is another conditioning session of gassers as that will produce more lactic acid in the muscles. Remember, the post game workout should be about RECOVERY. Speed work is out of the question as the athletes’ muscles are in a state of fatigue. And they would not be able to sprint at a maximal effort.

Furthermore, I do not see the point of trying to condition the athletes. The practice should be helping the athletes stay in shape, but if they are not in shape these after game conditioning sessions will not contribute much. Most coaches are doing what their coaches did without any rhyme or reason. The athletes do not question their coaches because they believe they are doing what is in their best interest. I am glad I learned from many coaches and by trial & error to teach me to find the best way to help our athletes.

Here are some suggestions to guarantee your team will be better prepared after the game.

1) Drink water to flush out the lactic acid, toxins, and keep the cells hydrated. You will be surprised how many athletes drink kidney smashers aka Sodas and cry about cramping.

2) Foam roll to improve the tissue quality of the muscle. A muscle will not move freely if it is knotted up.


3) A light jog w/ strength training circuit. Jog to 1 corner of the field do some bodyweight squats, jog to another corner do some push ups, jog to another corner do some reverse crunches, jog to another corner do some jumping jacks. Rest 1 minute and repeat three times.
4) Warm-up drills for 20 minutes, foam roll, and stretching. Example of Warm- Up circuit

*Jumping Jacks x 15
*Forward Skip x 10 Yards
*Side Skip x 10 Yards
*Backward Long Reach Skip x 10 yards
*Drive Knees Into Ground x 10 Yards
*Forward Leg Kicks x 10 Yards
*Side Squat x 10 Yards
* Spiderman Crawl x 10 Yards
*Hip Flexor Stretch x 60 Seconds each side
*Butt Stretch x 60 Seconds each Side
* Assisted Hamstring stretch x 2 Seconds
*Assisted Abductor/Adductor x 2 Seconds
* Assisted Glue Stretch x 2 Seconds
* Assisted Calf Stretch x 2 Seconds
*Fire Hydrant x 6 each side
* Hip Circles 3 Way x 6 each side
* Quick Forward Knee Drive x 10 Yards
* Quick Side Shuffle with hand movement x 10 Yards
* Quick Backpedal x 10 Yards
* Quick ten yard sprints x 4 times
* Finish w/ Foam Roll

5)30 Minute Medicine Ball Circuit

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