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Sporting · 55 practices

Athletic Performance

Squad value is a balance-sheet item. Availability, load and medical discipline protect and grow it.

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  1. 01

    Track availability and days lost weekly

    One sheet: who is fit, who is not, days lost per injury, trended all season.

    Impact high · effort low

    How to do it
    1. Build one shared sheet with a row per player per week and three statuses: available, modified or out.
    2. Ask the medical lead to update every player's status each Monday morning and note the injury or reason in a short free-text column.
    3. Record the date each injury started and ended so days lost per injury are calculated automatically rather than estimated later.
    4. Add a simple weekly total of players available against the squad list and chart it across the season.
    5. Review the trend monthly with the head coach, and judge it working when gaps in the log disappear and decisions start quoting the sheet.
  2. 02

    Run pre-season screening for every player

    Musculoskeletal baseline, injury history, movement tests, before day one.

    Impact high · effort medium

    How to do it
    1. List every test you will run, covering injury history, joint mobility, strength asymmetry and basic movement quality, and agree it with your medical lead.
    2. Book one screening day before the first training session and invite every player, including new signings and returning loanees.
    3. Record results in one template per player so each baseline sits beside the injury history you already hold.
    4. Flag players with past injuries or clear asymmetries and pass the list to the coaches and strength staff before training starts.
    5. Repeat the same tests at the next screening window and check whether flagged players improved and whether new injuries concentrate in the flagged group.
  3. 03

    Adopt a squad-wide prevention programme

    Nordic curls, Copenhagen adductor, FIFA 11+-style warm-up, every session.

    Impact high · effort low

    How to do it
    1. Choose a short routine that covers hamstrings, adductors, calves and landing control, and have your medical lead and head coach sign it off.
    2. Teach it to all coaches in one session so every squad uses the same exercises with the same technique.
    3. Build the routine into the start of every training session as the warm-up, so it needs no extra pitch time.
    4. Keep a simple attendance tick for each player at each session so adherence is visible to staff.
    5. Compare muscle injuries with last season at each quarterly review, and treat missing sessions as the first thing to fix if results disappoint.
  4. 04

    Write criteria-based return-to-play protocols

    Objective tests per injury type; no return on calendar dates alone.

    Impact high · effort medium

    How to do it
    1. Pick the three or four most common injuries your club sees and write a return pathway for each on a single page.
    2. For every stage, name the objective tests the player must pass, such as strength symmetry, a running drill or a sport-specific drill.
    3. Agree with the head coach that no player returns to full training until the medical lead has signed the checklist.
    4. Record every return against the checklist, including who signed it off and the date, in the same sheet as your injury log.
    5. Review re-injuries each quarter, and count the protocol as working when players return later than the calendar would have said but stay available longer.
  5. 05

    Monitor session load (RPE minimum)

    Rate every session per player; watch for week-on-week load spikes.

    Impact high · effort low

    How to do it
    1. Ask every player to rate how hard each session felt on a simple ten-point scale within half an hour of finishing.
    2. Collect ratings through a shared form or a clipboard, whichever players will actually complete, and enter session length alongside.
    3. Multiply rating by minutes in a shared sheet to get each player's session load, and total it for the week.
    4. Highlight any player whose weekly total jumps sharply above their recent weeks, and talk to the coach before the next hard session.
    5. Judge it working when load adjustments are made before injuries rather than after, and when most players submit ratings for most sessions.
  6. 06

    Daily two-minute wellness check

    Sleep, soreness, fatigue, mood, flag red scores before training.

    Impact high · effort low

    How to do it
    1. Write a short form of four or five questions on sleep, soreness, fatigue and mood, each answered on a simple scale.
    2. Have players complete it on their phones on arrival or before leaving home, so it takes about two minutes.
    3. Give one staff member the job of reading the results before every session and listing players with poor scores.
    4. Speak to flagged players briefly before training and agree with the coach whether to modify their session.
    5. Review monthly whether flagged players later became injured or ill, and whether response rates stay high enough to trust the pattern.
  7. 07

    Two strength sessions per player per week

    Periodised, squad-wide, non-negotiable: the biggest cheap availability lever.

    Impact high · effort medium

    How to do it
    1. Agree with the head coach which two weekly slots strength work will take, placed away from the day before a match.
    2. Write a simple progressive programme for the season with a few key lifts or bodyweight movements, adjusted by phase.
    3. Teach technique to all players in a short intake session and pair newer players with confident ones.
    4. Log who completes each session so missed work is visible, and treat attendance like any other training session.
    5. Review muscle injuries and player strength numbers at mid-season and again at the end, and adjust the programme where gaps remain.
  8. 08

    Individual programmes for at-risk players

    Previous injury is the top risk factor; those players get targeted work.

    Impact high · effort low

    How to do it
    1. Use your injury log to list players with a significant injury in the last two seasons, and add anyone your medical lead is concerned about.
    2. For each player on the list, write down the body area at risk and the specific exercises that address it.
    3. Add these exercises into that player's routine in the gym or the warm-up, rather than creating a separate session.
    4. Tell each player why they are on the list, so they understand the work is for them and not a punishment.
    5. Review the list every quarter, remove players who have stayed clear and judge success by fewer repeat injuries in the group.
  9. 09

    Weekly medical-coaching sync

    Fifteen minutes: availability, risk flags, planned load, decisions together.

    Impact high · effort low

    How to do it
    1. Fix a recurring slot each week, ideally the day after a match or two days before the next, and keep it to fifteen minutes.
    2. Invite the head coach, medical lead and strength coach, and bring only the availability sheet, risk flags and next week's planned load.
    3. Go through players by status: who is out, who is modified, who is at risk and what the coach plans for them.
    4. Record decisions in a shared note with a named owner for each, and open the next meeting by checking them.
    5. Judge it working when both sides arrive with the same information and team selection rarely surprises the medical staff.
  10. 10

    Reconditioning stage before full training

    A staged on-pitch block between rehab and team training cuts recurrence.

    Impact high · effort medium

    How to do it
    1. Define a reconditioning stage between rehab and full training, with on-pitch running, change of direction and ball work at controlled volumes.
    2. Write the exit criteria for the stage and agree them with the head coach and medical lead.
    3. Schedule the work on a separate part of the pitch, ideally with a fitness coach or physio supervising.
    4. Move the player into full team training only once the criteria are met, and record the date.
    5. Review re-injuries after return each quarter, and judge it working when fewer players relapse in their first weeks back.
  11. 11

    Track workload and injuries of players moving to first team

    Monitor training and match load and injury history for each player in the step up to senior football.

    Impact high · effort medium

  12. 12

    Educate coaches to make injury prevention part of their philosophy

    Run coach education so head coaches own injury prevention and use their influence with players.

    Impact high · effort low

  13. 13

    Standardise injury recording

    Consistent diagnosis, severity and mechanism coding so trends are comparable.

    Impact medium · effort low

    How to do it
    1. Agree a short list of injury categories with your medical lead covering body area, diagnosis type, severity band and mechanism.
    2. Define severity by days missed, grouped into slight, minor, moderate and severe bands, and write the definitions on one sheet.
    3. Build drop-down lists in your injury log so every entry uses the same terms and free-text typing is minimised.
    4. Train everyone who enters data in one short session, and have one person check entries each week.
    5. Judge it working when you can compare this season with last season, month by month, without having to reinterpret old entries.
  14. 14

    Introduce GPS for matches

    Match demands set the training target; start where the signal is richest.

    Impact medium · effort medium

    How to do it
    1. Decide the first question you want GPS to answer, such as match running demands for each position.
    2. Start with a small number of units for matches only, using the same players each week to build a clean picture.
    3. Appoint one person to charge, fit, download and store data, and write the routine on a single page.
    4. Compare match numbers by position to shape the intensity of the matching training sessions.
    5. Review after a few months whether staff use the data in decisions, and only then consider extending it to training.
  15. 15

    Plan the week around match-day minus/plus

    Structured MD-4 to MD+1 load pattern instead of ad hoc intensity.

    Impact medium · effort low

    How to do it
    1. Sketch your usual week from the day after a match through to the next match day, and note where hard work currently falls.
    2. Assign a purpose to each day, such as recovery, strength, high intensity, tactical, and sharpening, and keep it consistent.
    3. Agree with the head coach which day carries the heaviest load and which sessions must stay light.
    4. Pin the week template in the coaches' room and adjust only for fixtures, not for mood or results.
    5. Review session loads against the template monthly, and judge it working when hard days are reliably hard and light days reliably light.
  16. 16

    Protect the sleep window

    Education plus travel/kickoff planning, sleep is the top recovery tool.

    Impact medium · effort low

    How to do it
    1. Run a short education session for players and staff covering why sleep matters and what routines help, using plain language.
    2. Share simple guidance on screens, caffeine and regular bedtimes, and invite players to try one change each.
    3. Check the fixture list for late kick-offs and long trips, and plan return times and the following morning's schedule around them.
    4. Where overnight stays are affordable, book them for the longest away trips and agree a quiet-hours rule.
    5. Add a sleep question to the daily wellness check, and review whether scores improve after late or long travel.
  17. 17

    Basic nutrition standards

    Matchday fueling, post-session protein, hydration, written and visible.

    Impact medium · effort low

    How to do it
    1. Write a one-page nutrition standard covering matchday meals, snacks after sessions, protein after training and hydration through the day.
    2. Have a qualified nutritionist or a trusted adviser review it, so it is accurate and sensible for your players' ages.
    3. Display it in the changing room and canteen, and send a copy to players and parents.
    4. Stock the club's own snacks and drinks in line with the standard, so the easy choice is also the right one.
    5. Ask players quickly each term whether they follow it and which parts they struggle with, then adjust.
  18. 18

    Quarterly injury review

    Burden by type and month, versus last season, with actions, not blame.

    Impact medium · effort low

    How to do it
    1. Put a quarterly review in the calendar at the start of the season and invite the head coach, medical lead and a director.
    2. Prepare one page from your injury log showing injuries by type, body area and month, set against the same period last season.
    3. Discuss patterns without assigning blame, such as a surface, a training block or a congested spell.
    4. Agree two or three actions with owners and dates, and write them at the top of the next review page.
    5. Judge it working when actions are completed on time and the same cause stops appearing in successive reviews.
  19. 19

    Upgrade the worst training surface

    One poor pitch drives a disproportionate share of soft-tissue load.

    Impact medium · effort high

    How to do it
    1. Walk every training surface with groundstaff and your medical lead, and list where soft-tissue injuries have occurred.
    2. Rank the pitches by condition and by how many sessions they host, and pick the one doing most damage.
    3. Get quotes for drainage, levelling, reseeding or an alternative surface, and compare cost against days lost from your injury log.
    4. Redirect hard sessions to better pitches while work is planned and funded, and set a date for the upgrade.
    5. After the upgrade, compare injuries linked to that pitch before and after, and judge it working when the pattern fades.
  20. 20

    Hire or contract a sports scientist

    Even one day a week professionalises load management and testing.

    Impact medium · effort medium

    How to do it
    1. Write a short brief of what you need: load monitoring, testing, return-to-play support and coach education.
    2. Decide the budget for one day a week and ask local universities, other clubs and freelance practitioners for candidates.
    3. Interview two or three, and ask each how they would use your existing data and work with the medical and coaching staff.
    4. Agree a trial period with clear outputs, such as a monthly load report and a testing calendar.
    5. Review at the end of the trial whether coaches changed sessions based on the advice and whether the data is better kept.
  21. 21

    Baseline physical testing twice a season

    Sprint, jump, strength benchmarks, measure what training changes.

    Impact medium · effort low

    How to do it
    1. Choose a few simple tests the club can run reliably, such as a sprint over a set distance, a jump test and a strength measure.
    2. Write the protocol for each test so every squad is tested in the same way and on the same surface.
    3. Schedule two testing days in the season calendar, one early and one around mid-season, and tell players in advance.
    4. Record results in one sheet per player and share them with coaches and players soon after.
    5. Review whether numbers rise where training aimed to change them, and whether any decline predicted an injury.
  22. 22

    Manage the fixture-congestion playbook

    Rotation and recovery rules agreed in advance for 2-match weeks.

    Impact medium · effort low

    How to do it
    1. Identify the weeks in the calendar with two matches or short gaps, using last season's fixture list as a guide.
    2. Agree rules with the head coach in advance on who rests, minimum recovery between matches and training on the days between.
    3. Write the rules on one page and share it with the board so they are not questioned in the middle of a busy spell.
    4. Use the daily wellness check and session loads to adjust rotation during the congested period.
    5. Review injuries and availability after each congested spell, and tighten the rules where problems still appeared.
  23. 23

    Extend protocols to the B team / U19s

    Same screening and prevention for the players about to step up.

    Impact medium · effort medium

    How to do it
    1. List the players in the B team or oldest youth group who are likely to step up in the next year.
    2. Offer them the same pre-season screening you run for the first team, at the same time or soon after.
    3. Add them to the prevention programme, strength work and session rating routine used by the first team.
    4. Share their results with their coaches and the first-team staff so the transition continues from the same baseline.
    5. Judge it working when step-up players arrive with a complete record and their injury rate does not rise after promotion.
  24. 24

    Concussion protocol and education

    Recognise-and-remove policy, graded return, all staff briefed.

    Impact medium · effort low

    How to do it
    1. Write a one-page concussion policy that states a suspected head injury means the player leaves the pitch immediately and does not return that day.
    2. Set out a graded return in stages, with each stage requiring symptom-free status before the next and a medical sign-off at the end.
    3. Brief every coach, physio, volunteer and match official at the start of the season and again when new staff join.
    4. Place a short guide in each team's kit bag and in the medical room, so staff can find it quickly.
    5. Review every suspected case afterwards to check the policy was followed, and update the briefing where gaps appeared.
  25. 25

    Adjust training and recovery to menstrual cycle phases

    Use individual adjustments to training intensity and recovery during certain cycle phases, guided by each player's own tracking and medical staff.

    Impact medium · effort medium

  26. 26

    Educate players on menstrual cycles and hormonal contraception

    Run short education sessions so players understand their cycle and hormone profile and can act on it in nutrition and recovery.

    Impact medium · effort low

  27. 27

    Give players access to clinical psychology services

    Contract a clinical psychologist or referral partner so players can reach professional mental health support quickly.

    Impact medium · effort medium

  28. 28

    Build a medical onboarding procedure for new signings

    Write a standard intake covering medical history, screening and handover from the previous club, run for every new player.

    Impact medium · effort low

  29. 29

    Use performance data to adjust training plans

    Review monitoring data on a fixed rhythm and change session content when it shows progress or strain.

    Impact medium · effort medium

  30. 30

    Benchmark minutes played per injury across the squad

    Divide competitive minutes by injuries each season and compare with league averages to judge prevention work.

    Impact medium · effort low

  31. 31

    Assess the biological and medical profile of academy prospects

    Record maturation and medical history for each prospect to reduce injuries and inform expected potential.

    Impact medium · effort medium

  32. 32

    Write your own health standards for youth players

    Define written medical and physical standards for youth squads, since no international standard exists.

    Impact medium · effort medium

  33. 33

    Support mental pressure for players stepping up to first team

    Prepare academy players for result-driven first-team demands with psychology support during the transition.

    Impact medium · effort medium

  34. 34

    Build individual load profiles from wearable data

    Combine speed, acceleration, distance and heart rate variability into one profile per player.

    Impact medium · effort medium

  35. 35

    Monitor sleep quality and post-training soreness with wearables

    Collect sleep and soreness signals from wearables and review them before choosing session intensity.

    Impact medium · effort medium

  36. 36

    Appoint one owner for performance technology

    Give one person responsibility for choosing and using tracking tools to personalise training and prevent injuries.

    Impact medium · effort medium

  37. 37

    Turn existing match footage into performance data with AI

    Use video analysis software on current recordings to get player metrics and team statistics without new hardware.

    Impact medium · effort low

  38. 38

    Install tracking cameras to record every match and training

    Automate capture with cameras that follow play, so footage quality is consistent and no one has to film.

    Impact medium · effort medium

  39. 39

    Add biomarker monitoring to manage player availability

    Work with a physiology provider to read biomarker data and guide recovery and load decisions.

    Impact medium · effort high

  40. 40

    Weigh player welfare before adding commercial fixtures

    Check workload and recovery impact on the squad before agreeing extra friendlies, tours or events.

    Impact medium · effort low

  41. 41

    Pilot AI injury-risk prediction on existing load data

    Test an AI tool that flags fitness and injury risk from the data you already collect.

    Impact medium · effort high

  42. 42

    Run post-match reviews using wearable and camera data

    Review wearable and camera data after each match to inform load, recovery and tactical decisions.

    Impact medium · effort medium

  43. 43

    Employ a specialist for pitch maintenance

    Put a trained groundskeeper in charge of playing and training surfaces as a specialised discipline.

    Impact medium · effort medium

  44. 44

    Offer pregnant players regular independent medical advice

    Provide independent medical advice and an adapted training plan for any player who continues playing during pregnancy.

    Impact medium · effort low

  45. 45

    Claim FIFA Club Protection Programme cover for call-ups

    Check which international windows the programme covers and file claims for players injured on national duty.

    Impact medium · effort low

  46. 46

    Cap competitive match load for developing academy players

    Limit academy players' fixtures in extra competitions so international experience does not overload their calendar.

    Impact medium · effort low

  47. 47

    Combine health, medical and performance data in one platform

    Choose a single tool that brings medical and performance data together so staff see one picture per player.

    Impact medium · effort medium

  48. 48

    Dedicate performance staff to the women's team

    Assign staff who work only on the women's team rather than splitting their time with the men's side.

    Impact medium · effort medium

  49. 49

    Recovery menu after matches

    Simple tiered options: nutrition, sleep, pool/bike flush, within 24h.

    Impact low · effort low

    How to do it
    1. Write a short menu of recovery options in tiers, from basic to fuller, such as food, sleep advice, light cycling or pool work.
    2. Choose which options each squad can realistically offer within a day of a match, using facilities you already have.
    3. Place the menu in the changing room and post it to the squad chat after matches.
    4. Ask players which options they use and which they value, then drop what is ignored.
    5. Judge it working when players report feeling fresher in the next session, especially after midweek matches.
  50. 50

    Psychological readiness in RTP

    Confidence and fear-of-reinjury checks alongside physical criteria.

    Impact low · effort low

    How to do it
    1. Choose a short readiness questionnaire that asks about confidence, fear of re-injury and willingness to take part fully.
    2. Add it to the return-to-play checklist as a required item alongside the physical tests.
    3. Have the physio or medical lead talk to the player before sign-off and note any concerns.
    4. Where confidence is low, extend the graded return or add match-like drills before clearing the player.
    5. Review whether players who scored low struggled after return, and use that to refine how you act on the answers.
  51. 51

    Annual external audit of the performance programme

    Outside review of protocols and data once a year keeps standards honest.

    Impact low · effort medium

    How to do it
    1. Choose an independent reviewer, such as a sports medicine professional from another club or a university, with no stake in your current set-up.
    2. Prepare a pack for them with your protocols, injury log, load records and testing results from the past season.
    3. Ask them to visit, observe a training week and interview the head coach, medical lead and a few players.
    4. Request a short written report with the strengths, the gaps and a ranked list of recommendations.
    5. Add the recommendations to the next season's plan with owners and dates, and check progress at your quarterly review.
  52. 52

    Fit female players with female-specific football boots

    Offer boot fitting with foot scans and player feedback, and steer players to models designed for female feet.

    Impact low · effort low

  53. 53

    Link head-impact sensors to the matchday doctor

    Pilot sensors that alert an independent doctor after a high impact, so the player is assessed before returning.

    Impact low · effort high

  54. 54

    Report call-ups outside mandatory release periods

    Log players called up outside the FIFA release calendar and alert the club association so it can act.

    Impact low · effort low

  55. 55

    Use a web portal for remote coaching and clips

    Share video clips and individual feedback with players away from the club, for example during rehab or breaks.

    Impact low · effort low

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