How can players keep fit and safe in winter?

’only do things they are comfortable with’

"Covid, especially in the US when combined with civil unrest, made me think about this more.

"Instead of only giving a treadmill workout, I’d also give a road-run alternative, because not everyone wanted to go to a gym.

"I have always told athletes who live in colder areas to let me know if they need indoor alternatives, like a treadmill run. 

"But they have to reach out to me because I’ve just got so many athletes from so many different climates.

 

"Whenever I hand out training cycles to be done at home, I tell them to only do things they are comfortable with and to let me know if they need alternatives.

"I don’t specifically say not to run at night, but they are encouraged to reach out to me if they have an issue with something."

 

Jeanne Rankin - Assistant director of strength and conditioning, Coastal Carolina University

 

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’run in daytime or do hiit’

"I encourage running mostly to be done in summer in pre-season. 

 

"In winter, I encourage any running to be in the daytime for safety.

"Alternatively, HIIT [High Intensity Interval Training] sessions are good for endurance, and can be done at home. 

"Running is done during football anyway, in and out of possession, as long as the sessions have the right intensity."

 

Silviu Gheorghe - Former coach, Sutton United Women U18s

 

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’get to station together’

"I coach Under-18s girls and some travel to and from training sessions alone.

"I try to make sure they get to the transport station together in the evening as we finish quite late, at 7pm. 
"It helps bonding among team-mates too!"

 

Natascia Bernardi - Girls Academy Manager, Kinetic Foundation

 

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’a team’s eyes and ears’

"Safety and player wellbeing is something we have spoken about a lot.

"We only get a few hours’ contact time per week, so while we demand high-intensity sessions, we ask players to take responsibility for fitness in their own time. 

"But we are aware not all players feel comfortable being outside alone as females, particularly after dark in winter and we obviously don’t want to put players in unsafe scenarios.

"So we decided to use some of this year’s sponsorship money to fund each player’s gym membership and we set them each an individual programme."

 

LAYLA BOYD - U18s coach based in Glasgow

 

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