Kicking punchbags – why keepersshouldtryit

DON’TGIVEITAREST

Testsontheeffectsoftreadmill runningagainstplaying football foundthatthekneestayedstrong duringbothactivities,butthat restduringhalf-timeonlyinduced changesinthejoint that“may have implications for anterior cruciate ligament injuryrisk”.

NO.1ISTHE LONELIESTNUMBER

Pro goalkeepersare lesslikelythan otherplayerstohave brothersor sisters.In a survey of footballersand familymake-up,Britishexperts discovered thatmidfieldershave 2.4 siblingsandstrikers2.2(on average, obviously),whileshot-stoppersare mostlikelytobeonlychildren.

BAND FORLIFE?

Researcherslookingintotheeffects ofheading a ballhave beentrialling protective headbandsamong25 collegesoccerplayersintheUS.They testedhow using yournutcould affect memoryand reactiontimes withandwithouttheheadbands, and found…nodifference.

SKIPTRAINING FORACHANGE

Jumping,hurdling,bouncingand skippingcouldallmake youa better player.Two newstudies – fromSpain andAustralia – confirmthat plyometricpractice carriedout amongjuniorelite playersledto bettershooting,sprinting,jumping andagilitydata.

KEEPINGITLEAN

AnalysisofLiverpool’sunder-18, under-21andfirst-teamsquads showed thatwhilethere was littledifferenceinthe fat mass thatplayers carried,those whomadethefirst teamalso had a greateramount of leanmusclemass.

10THINGS

WE’VELEARNEDTHISMONTH

GERMANCARDS COMELATER

A studyof refereesin theBundesliga foundthatthey developtheir own ‘judgement scale’asthe gameprogressesand usuallydon’tpenalise foulstothe letterofthelawuntilthey’ve got intotheflow ofthe game.

TACTICS:AN OLDMAN’SGAME

Experienced footballershave a memoryof tacticsthatenables themto react fasterthan youngpros to a changeofplanor formation. German researchers foundthat playingmore gamesconditionsthe braintoprocess tacticsmore fluidly.

BANANASFOR BRADLEYWIGGINS

Italian researcherscomparingthe eatinghabitsof young footballers andcyclists foundthatthe former carryless fat thancyclistsintheir teenage years – butdon’t take onenough blood-boostingpotassium, found naturallyinbananas,nutsand avocados.

WISERHEAD–WEAKERBODY

A studyof18German veterans’ teams foundthatolderplayers were at a greaterriskofmuscle injury.Thoughthey were not injuredmore oftenthan younger players,they were muchmore pronetomuscle tearsandstrains.

THEKIDSAREALLRIGHT (ATTAKINGPENALTIES)

After findingthat‘current stars’(who had won individualawards) were 65 percent successfulinshootouts, while‘future stars’(who went onto winthem)had a conversion rate of 89percent,expertssuggestthatless experiencedplayersseepenaltiesas a chancetoearn a reputation.