Life is life....

This summer my squad suffered two unusual injuries. The most unusual was a fall off of a trampoline resulting in a broken wrist. The second one was when I got elbowed by one of my keepers during training resulting in three broken ribs. Now this winter season the same keeper played out and caught a cleat and sprained her ankle, one of our forwards jumped from a treehouse window and sprained her ankle, and lastly, another forward overstrained her thigh while on a 20 Km run. All of this is to say injury threats are everywhere lurking behind the next curb, or step or treehouse. All the players can do is seek to avoid obvious risk taking activity (like jumping from a tree house or using a trampoline), and we as coaches can attempt to limit risk to injury by incorporating appropriate fitness training and warm up routines. The best warm up and fitness routine out there is the FIFA 11+. I have attempted to incorporate in our team sessions in the summer, but, in retrospect, not enough time was dedicated to it. In the limited winter season it is becoming more difficult to dedicate sufficient time to the warm up process. That being said, a number of the stretches can be done by the player on her own. This is important to remember. The player has a personal responsibility to protect and maintain their fitness levels, we as coaches are responsible to educate, motivate and remind the players as to why they must stretch and strengthen.

This is the FIFA 11+ link, with descriptive videos. You should try them yourselves, remember strength and flexibility is earned, not gifted.


http://f-marc.com/11plus/exercises/


And remember, sometimes life just takes over, and you'll get injured anyway. Get well soon Rory!!




Cambridge United's Rory McAuley injured at birthday party

McAuley has played 15 Blue Square Bet Premier games this term

Cambridge United defender Rory McAuley could face surgery after injuring his knee at his nephew's birthday party.

McAuley, 22, has suspected cartilage damage after falling while playing with the three-year-old on Sunday.

"It is a freak accident. It is too swollen to be assessed properly at the moment," manager Jez George told.

"He will be seeing the specialist again on Monday and has no chance for Darlington on Saturday."

The versatile defender endured a similar setback ahead of the 2010-11 campaign, when he spent six weeks on the sidelines following surgery on the same knee.

McAuley can consider himself unlucky with injuries, after missing the start of the current campaign when he punctured his calf on a nail during training.

George can turn to Michael Wylde for defensive cover, although the former Tamworth man has been playing with a groin problem and requires surgery of his own.