footballers

alunbelmont

Any grassroots footballers on here? how often do you run between games? and how far?

GiddyupTim

I don't play anymore. Post ACL injury and reconstruction.
But, when I did, I played a league game once a week and, usually, two unorganized, pick-up games a week.
I still ran, anywhere between 5-8 miles, twice per week.
Now, I have to admit. I did develop plantar fasciitis. It was clearly related to that much running, and footwear I let get too old without replacement.
If the running did not exactly cause it, that much running did not allow it to heal.
But, I also think it was really good for my game.
I could run that much further, that much longer, than other players.
There was a famous basketball coach here in the US, named Bobby Knight. He was highly successful, year after year. One of the reasons they think he was so successful is that he made his players run a lot. (Not 10-mile runs; but wind sprints and things like that.)
More than other coaches.
One time, researchers examined his players. They used ultrasound to measure the size of their heart. His players had bigger (ie, more efficient and effective) hearts than players on other teams.
Knight said that many, many games come down to the last minutes of the contest. If you are in better shape than your opponent, you can dominate those last minutes. Being in shape might not give you every game. But it can give you enough games, over the course of a season, to make a huge difference.
I think running between games is very important.

MichelleWithMoxie

this is totally a thread for @Wiltord1982