Pre season week 2 ends with 11 vs 11 practice match
WEDNESDAY saw the players completing repeated runs for 7 minutes, active recovery involving ball work, and then another set of repeated runs for 7 minutes over a certain distance which was set by the yo-yo tests last week. This was high intensity work which made for a very tough session. Lastly, a pool/ice bath session aided recovery in the afternoon.
Thursday’s sessions included possession drills followed by small-sided games with full size goals, featuring the goalkeepers for the first time. The players were split into three teams with two sides playing for 8 minutes at a time and the third participating in sprinting tests conducted by Chris Squirrell.
This was the first time since the summer that the goalkeepers have been introduced back into a match environment as their previous focus has been specific technique work with Lee Jones.
Reflecting later on the session, Jones commented on the purpose of the session: “The two keepers have come back very fit anyway, but my job is to get them familiar with the ball and ready for the forthcoming friendly games.
“They’ve been looking really sharp and I’m looking forward to seeing them in the friendlies.”
Thursday afternoon was spent at 3-1-5 Health club, a continuation of the strength and conditioning programme.
Friday’s training began with a ‘fartlek’ run (walk, run and stretch) along Morecambe promenade, the purpose of which was to get the players out in the fresh air to help them recover from a tough schedule. The afternoon featured a further recovery session in the pool at 3-1-5. The overall aim of the two Friday sessions was to prepare the players to go into their first 11v11 practice games, the first of which took place on Saturday morning and consisted of 3x20 minute games in advance of the friendly programme starting next week.