Idle players must find way to maintain fitness and health

MEDICAL and performance teams at football clubs will have their work cut out in the coming weeks, not only in monitoring the number of ill players in their squad but ensuring the players not affected maintain fitness while football takes a break due to the coronavirus pandemic.

They will plan training programmes based on the projected restart date of April 4, although this is a situation changing daily. We will know more this week, but many will be sceptical as to whether the Premier League will resume then making it much more difficult to schedule training.

Government guidelines on isolation changed last week from 14 days to seven days and could change again this week. However, a lot of clubs will give players seven days off, in line with current guidelines, and advise them on avoiding situations where they risk contamination, such as unnecessary social contact or frequent trips to crowded spaces. This will give the clubs the chance to deep clean training grounds and facilities.

When the players come back, if they aren’t showing symptoms, the government advice would suggest that they were not positive. Of course, in their day-to-day day life they could still pick up the virus after that, though I’m sure clubs will be re-emphasising their advice on reducing risk of infection.

If players are off for seven days, they will be given a personal training schedule to follow. The second week of the break, if they are back at the training ground, would be like a mini pre-season, with plenty of conditioning work to re-establish fitness. Then, the third week, before April 4, would be more standard, with harder physical work at the start and tactical meetings at the back end.

However, given that date looks moveable, it is hard to plan with certainty. It is possible that the players might be ready to play but the government guidelines on mass gatherings may change next week, making a restart impossible.

A bigger issue facing club medical staff is caring for those who have tested positive for coronavirus, as Mikel Arteta or Callum Hudson-Odoi did. For those suffering from the virus, you would naturally treat them as a patient first and an athlete second. Their wellbeing is paramount.

If, as reported, like Hudson-Odoi, they are feeling fine now, you might contemplate some fitness work, but it would be dependent on the symptoms.

Other players will be selfisolating according to government guidelines simply because they have had contact with someone who is infected, even if they themselves feel fine. To keep them fit while confined to their home could be problematic. It will be easier for the Premier League players as many of them have gyms or swimming pools in their homes anyway.

Even without leaving the house, you should be able to retain a good level of aerobic fitness. Of course, that will be harder for a League Two player who might not have access to training equipment or similar facilities.

The other logistical issue for clubs if the Premier League resumes is what to do if another player tests positive for the virus.

As it stands, that would result in the whole squad having to selfisolate for a week meaning more cancelled fixtures. Even once the squad is back, they wouldn’t be able to play straight away.

A gradual return from selfisolation would inevitably slow down the rate at which you could get fixtures played.