Martial arts training will give us the edge on pitch

Controlled aggression is name of the game, says gaffer Kate

St Mirren Women’s gaffer Kate Cooper believes mixed martial arts training will give her team an added edge for the season ahead.

Players and staff will work with coaches at MMA Paisley in a bid to boost their controlled aggression as they look to make an impact in just their second season.

Cooper led her charges to sixth in the league after a tremendous second half to the season which saw them lose just three games.

But the manager knows if the team are to progress further, they need to take the next step and she believes MMA training could hold the key.

Cooper told Express Sport: “We went along to MMA where we did kickboxing, Brazilian jiu jitsu and some self-defence.

“We are looking to get more controlled, focused aggression into our game.

“I want the players to have a relaxed intensity and when I looked around, martial arts seemed the best fit.

“It teaches humility and discipline as well,which is important.

“But I want our players to increase their physicality on the pitch, to have an edge to their game and martial arts will help us with that. Sometimes we go 200mph but it is better to be more controlled.”

The session, which Cooper hopes will become a regular fixture in the team’s training, also helped develop skills which can be used on the pitch.

“We did some shadow work, where you follow the movements of the other person, which is like a defender following an attacker,” she added

“Our team is made up of players of various abilities, from players who had never played in a team right up to players of a very good level.

“We worked really hard at the start of the season to get our fitness levels up because without that base level of fitness, there is no point working on technique or tactics.

“During the second half of the season the fitness levels were much better and we want to keep that going.

“When we first started, we had just six players and we have built form there.

“I keep telling the players to focus on performance and the results will follow.

“If our performances are good, then that’s what matters.

“We saw a real mind shift in the players half way through the season to that sort of mentality,and it is paying.

“We will keep training throughout the winter ahead of the new season.”