Aspire in the World Fellows Book - 2023

/48 The process for individual profiling in our club considers different ages and genders to cater to a diverse group of players. The individual profile, based on tests, guides our daily routines and development strategies. We prioritize assessing players’ daily readiness, incorporating simple wellness checks and medical screenings. This helps us tailor training loads to individual needs. To enhance individualization, we’re exploring additional time within the training ground for small groups or individual sessions. These sessions cover pre-training activation, strength and power exercises, recovery, and supplemental activities. I often emphasize the necessity of having a complete understanding of the players, akin to having a photo of the puzzle. This understanding extends beyond the pitch, and the idea is to provide practitioners with robust information for optimal player support. The club is actively implementing data collection and sharing mechanisms to create a holistic picture of each player. This involves players in the process, ensuring they feel a sense of inclusion. To strengthen this bond, we are increasing the time players spend within the department, fostering trust by openly sharing information and demonstrating our commitment to doing our best for their well-being and performance. Addressing position-specific demands presents challenges in tailoring training to locomotor, cardiovascular, and technical-tactical needs. Replicating external load demands for locomotor aspects is relatively straightforward with varied drill designs. However, achieving uniform cardiovascular and metabolic involvement is complicated by differing fitness levels among players in different positions. For example, a center defender may exhibit high fitness but low heart rate involvement during specific drills. The complexity intensifies with varied training schedules and match day plus/minus values, adds layers to the challenge. Defining how to individualize training becomes intricate due to the multifaceted nature of the player’s needs. While high-speed running and sprinting can be addressed through tailored drills based on position, finding a universal solution for cardiovascular- metabolic factors proves elusive. In response, we consider creating small groups or specific exercises to cater to position-specific needs, recognizing that individualization isn’t a one- size-fits-all solution. It necessitates a nuanced understanding of the diverse factors at play in player development. When engaging with individuals supporting our players, particularly the training conditioning coaches, our focus is on expanding the time spent at the training ground. This initiative stems from our performance department’s comprehensive data collection, which includes player assessments, individual training loads, involvement in high- intensity activities, and considerations for physio needs. With over 30 professionals in our department, each contributing unique expertise, we closely collaborate to address medical, performance, and technical-tactical aspects. AndreaRiboli ACMilan: HeadofSport Science