“I have never taken down class notes with so much interest and intensity at school. I bet, never,” an animated Aaron Symons, assistant coach of Pailan Arrows – All India Football Federation’s developmental side – quipped.

Raymond Verheijen with all the participants, AIFF Technical Director Rob Baan and Director of Academies and Coaching Scott O’Donnell

Raymond Verheijen’s – the renowned fitness instructor who is here to conduct a three-day Conditioning Conference for Football Coaches – topic for the day was Planning a Season with the help of the Periodisation Model. And Symons was speaking on behalf of all the other 32 participants. After all planning a season stays the most important part for a coach.

“After a game on Saturday, the next day should be kept for recovery followed by a day-off on Monday. Now ideally recovery after a game is spending time in the swimming pool. It relaxes your muscles and at the same time keeps your blood circulation going,” Verheijen, who has coached at seven consecutive major championships – from Euro 2000 with Holland to Euro 2012 with Russia, said.

Now if you have a game on Wednesday, you don’t have time to do a Conditioning session. Then you do light training and not maximum explosive action as that can enhance the damage of your muscles. When you play you damage your muscles. That needs recovery time.” The 41-year old Dutchman added.

The former Advisor of Periodisation of clubs like FC Barcelona and Chelsea FC, also explained the Periodisation Model.

“It’s a six-week activity generally done during pre-season. In the first two weeks you play the 11 versus 11 to eight versus eight Conditioning Games. Now as you progress to the fourth and fifth week, you do small sided games like four against four to two against two. If you do reverse it, your players will perform more actions per minute from the word go and by the time they reach the fifth week, they’ll be fatigued. Chances of injury will be more. You have to think of injury prevention as well,” educated Verheijen as the participants stayed glued.

Meanwhile AIFF President Mr. Praful Patel, who was at the FICCI Federation House also on Wednesday (February 14, 2013) to attend a Football Business Conference, met Verheijen and offered his regards.

At the end of this short sojourn, Verheijen was presented with a shawl, a tie and a crystal memorabilia depicting the AIFF Football House.

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