THIS IS NOT A DRILL
Assistant manager looks to follow science on implementing new social distancing training regime
Some of sport’s top technical brains will help plot Ayr United’s return to action.
Assistant manager Mick McArdle has revealed how cutting- edge techniques on social distance training will be embraced.
Mick, who is studying a Masters degree in Advanced Performance Football Coaching, has been using his uni course to network with some of the globe’s leading lights.
And advice from colleagues at the likes of Barcelona, Bayer Leverkusen and even the NBA will be adapted to keep Ayr in shape when they eventually return.
McArdle told the Post: “I’ve been lucky enough to pick up some good contacts along the way.
“I was speaking the other week to one of Barcelona’s sport s scientists which was great.
“I also spent some time on Zoom with a strength and conditioning coach at Leverkusen, and caught up with a friend of mine who is a technical coach in the NBA.
“Learning from these people is vital and their insight into social distance training and the different trends to come from it is fascinating.”
With the Championship unlikely to restart before October, Ayr’s players will not have kicked a competitive ball for at least seven months when they do return.
And McArdle knows that presents very real physical challenges.
He said: “When you look at leagues around the world who have returned, there are clear patterns of injuries occurring.
“Players will need managed incredibly carefully over that first three to six weeks.
“When you’ve been out of action and idle for so long, how you handle that return is critical, so there will be a key injury prevention period.
“From there the challenge will be adapting our pre- season to suit social distancing needs.
“It will be all about stripping things back to their basic isolated level.
“Football is obviously a contact sport and players are not used to being told to stay two metres apart.
“But there is plenty we can do and I think they will quickly adapt – they will just be desperate to get back out there.
“But there’s no doubt they will find it strange and that’s why it’s important that we, as coaches, use as many different techniques as possible to keep training innovative.”