DEVELOP GAME SPEED

This week I received this Instagram message:

"Hey Troy,

In footy, speed kills!

I was wondering what speed drills I should do to simulate a match scenario.

I want to try and provide my team more run and carry.

Thanks"

In footy 99.9% of coaches and players think 99.9% of problems can be solved through harder or more physical training.

This is a blog for another day but it can't be any further from the truth.

Going back to my Game Changer posts from late last year, every scenario/situation in a game football is comprised of the 4 game co-actives being:

- Physical

- Tactical

- Psychological

- Technical

As you can see improving game speed is only part of the solution and speed on it's own can be close to useless.

Let's have a look at how each co-active applies itself to game speed.


PHYSICAL

- The big one here is mechanical versus operational output

- Mechanical output refers to how fast you can sprint in a straight line, unimpeded and non-fatigued

- Operational output refers to how fast you can run in and around players, potentially impeded and at minimum partially fatigued

- Initially you need to increase your mechanical output

- You want the gap between your mechanical and operational output to be as close as possible

- Are you an accelerator or a sprinter?

- How much does your speed drop off after 1 hour footy training versus 1 hour of game time?


TACTICAL

- Does your team instil game tactics to use players with high speed?

- Does your team use a game style allows high speed players to display what they do best?

- Are you able to position/locate yourself during a game to utilise your high speed?


PSYCHOLOGICAL

- Can you manage your arousal levels at training, pre-game and during a game to keep fatigue at bay?

- Are you mentally prepared to run literally as fast as you can?

- Can you manage arousal levels and times of high output with times of recovery within games?

- Can you train and play smarter, not harder?


TECHNICAL

- Are you prepared physically to run literally as fast as you can?

- Do you have sound sprinting technique while sprinting in a non-fatigued state?

- Are you able to maintain sound sprinting technique while sprinting under fatigue?


Do you need help with any of these aspects?

Let me know via Facebook private message - I've got an idea of a Game Speed Group but I'll need at 5 players to make it worth it.