Being a footballer needs both physical and psychological prep work; continue reading to find out more
It could come as a surprise but mental preparation before a game is just as crucial as physical prep work, as the former Aston Villa owner would understand. Despite just how much training footballers do in the week before a game, it can all be for nothing if their head is simply not in the game. We all have down days where we feel uninspired, awkward or thrown off by things going on in our personal lives. Footballers need to be able to compartmentalise these notions into a different box inside their heads, so that they can focus entirely on the match. Certainly, recognising how to prepare for a football game mentally is much easier said than done. For some footballers, efficient mental preparation may suggest discussing strategy and expectations with coaching personnel, but various other players might prefer doing relaxation techniques like meditation instead. Ultimately, it can take some trial and error until footballers discover something that helps them.
Even though there is no way to guarantee how to play well in a football match, generally-speaking the greatest game results arise when footballers have correctly prepared themselves in advance. Effective preparation indicates getting both the mind and body operating at the maximum level, to make sure that footballers can walk onto the grassy pitch on top-form. In regards to how to physically prepare for a soccer game, it normally starts with a pre-match training session, as the US former AC Milan owner would know. Whether players decide to do a quick jog around the pitch or lift some light weights, they aim is to warm up their major muscle groups to prepare them for the strenuous demands of competitive play. Often, footballers will collaborate with a fitness instructor to find light warm-up routines that are specialised to them personally, which is why you will frequently see the players doing completely different warm-up routines in the lead up to the game. Certainly, as soon as the muscle groups are all warmed up from the light workout, it is very crucial for players to find enough time to stretch, as stretching can lower the danger of injury throughout the game. Bad injuries have the power to keep players benched for the rest of the season, or worst-case scenario can harm their whole footballing career, which is why it is so crucial that players do not avoid this stage in their routine.
There are many preconceptions about what the daily routine of a professional football player appears like, with a great deal of people assuming that it is all about partying and vacationing. Nonetheless, it is a renowned truth that footballers embrace a very disciplined and healthy way of living throughout the football season. For example, they often do training with the team early in the morning hours, in addition to their own gym sessions later on in the day. To be able to do all this physical activity, players adhere to an incredibly healthy diet regimen containing a lot of protein shakes, veggies and lean protein sources like salmon, chicken and egg. A lot of football players also forfeit alcohol throughout their season, instead opting to consume lots of glasses of water each day. They have strict, rigid regimens that they are dedicated to in order to keep their bodies in the best condition feasible for their sport. In terms of how to prepare for a football match the night before, the best piece of advice for footballers is to get a full-nights rest of at least 8 hours. Trying to play an excellent match on only 2 or 3 hours of sleep is basically impossible, so it is vital that football players prevent late nights, quit drinking caffeine and lower blue light exposure from their mobile phones. Ultimately, routine exercise, healthy diet and good sleep schedule are 3 fundamental things that footballers live-by, as the West Ham United owner would recognise.