Sports has been somewhat less of a constant this year compared to other years, which can have an effect on performance and increase the risk of injuries.
The postponement of many sports at every level in March and the halting of sports at a non-elite level in November have both come as a result of a national lockdown aimed to halt the spread of Covid-19.
Since match fitness is vital to avoiding injury and improving performance, here are tips from a sports therapist in Maidenhead as to how you can maintain some level of match fitness even without match days.
Maintain Your Base Level of Fitness
Match fitness is often about explosive bursts of energy that are maintained over substantial periods. Regardless of your sport, it is important to build up your base of fitness.
This does not necessarily have to involve long blocks of cardio, although that is an option. Short but intense blocks of tempo running can help to build the foundations over a period of time.
Focus Training On Your Sport’s Needs
Different sports rely on a base level of cardio and fitness, but to excel at a sport often relies on different types of fitness for particular situations.
Football, for example, is being at an elite level of fitness for 90 minutes but also able to reach for something extra when heading towards goal. Interval training will help with this, doing blocks of sprints with short rests between each one.
For every match, you are not involved in or has been cancelled due to lockdown, try to replicate the demands of the sport you play.
