Winter Sports Training in the Wet

The Honeymoon Period
We're well into the New Zealand winter sports season now so if you're playing something like rugby, football, netball or hockey you've made it through the warm, dry spell which the early season puts up year after year.

The Dark Days are Coming
You know it's coming though...It's already dark at training since the days have shortened and the temperatures are starting to drop. We've had a few wet weeks already but there's far worse to come. June and July in New Zealand club sport is where the season is won or lost.

Many teams training attendances fall due to the various thresholds of "fair weather trainer" each of us posses. Many clubs have indoor venues they can use but these are often reserved for the top teams. Even having a training moved to the gym is enough to turn many club sports people off training for the night due to a lack of space and preparation on the coach's behalf.

Capitalising on the Competition's Failings
These "worst of winter months" are an ideal opportunity for any club to make a big move in there standings come the business end of the season. By targeting these months as keys to success and really pushing the players to take ownership for making the most of it, any team can find themselves a far fitter, more cohesive unit each game-day.

Optimising Team Trainings
Coaches need to have indoor sessions planned for this time of the year and many do. If the players know they're going to get a good training regardless of the weather then they're more likely to turn up. Setting up circuit for skills and fitness phases of the training keeps athletes moving and on their toes. This really is the bare minimum requirement as no one wants to stand about listening to the coach talk in an unheated hall or freezing southerly.

Setting a work and recovery time for every game and drill let's everyone know how long they're going to have to work for and how much rest they're going to get. This increases the energy again, especially in a game situation whereby the coach is giving score and time updates regularly.

Rolling Subs vs 3+Teams
One format I'd like to see all coaches change is whether to have two teams with rolling subs or 3+teams whereby two teams play while one or two teams sit out. While the latter scenario is most common it allows athletes to cool down and get bored for too long.

Having two large teams with rolling subs means those on court have to work hard then get off. The coach needs to drive this concept as there will always be those who just want to stay on the entire game. This is another opportunity for the coach to develop team players who recognise when they're too tired and need to sub for the better of their team.

Part 2: Optimising Each Individual's Trainings...coming soon!