"Elite football is more intense, yet we've become 'safe' and 'comfortable' in physical training. Saying 'we've always done it this way' won't cut it. We need to break this mindset for high performance" Matt Willmott sportsmith.co/articles/repla…

Replacing warm-ups and "activation" with pre-training preparation (PTP) sessions is key. PTP aims to prepare players to cope and perform at the highest level during training or matches

Many pre-activation sessions don't meet players' needs. We've all seen mats, foam rollers, and hurdles in the gym, but these setups often fall short of adequately preparing players for optimal performance on the pitch.

Elite football has progressed significantly, becoming more intense with greater demands on players. The industry has become "safe" and "comfortable" in designing physical work, which isn't consistent with a high-performance culture.

Aligning physical and technical training is essential. Performance practitioners must be informed about technical coaches' session designs and content. Collaboration ensures both technical and physical contributions fit within weekly and seasonal cycles.

"Aligning physical and technical training is crucial. Tuesday's intensive MD-4 session boosts acceleration and deceleration. Wednesday's MD-3 focuses on max sprint speed and load. Tailoring training for peak performance" Matt Willmott sportsmith.co/articles/repla…

Enjoyed writing another piece for Sportsmith - truly believe ‘it’s always been done like this’ is the most dangerous saying in high performance. Find solutions and actually develop athletic and physical performance

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