Crewe Alexandra players can expect a difficult time when they report back for pre-season training on Monday 29th June.
In a bid to get the squad fitter and stronger, the players were sent away for the Summer with programmes that included two weight sessions and three 45-minute runs a week, that they were to complete on their own accord. If any players return and fail to meet the required standard they will be hit hard with extra training as fitness coach Andy Franks tells Crewe Alex World.
He says: "We did three days of testing before the players left for the summer, and they have had a programme that they have had to follow for the whole of the close season, they must report back at a certain level of fitness on 29th June. We will retest them in the first week and if they haven't met the targets that we have set them they will have some extra training sessions to do and some really hard work.
"Their programme has meant that they have had to do three minimum 45 minute runs a week, these vary from a straight run to a variation between jogging and sprinting. They also do a set treadmill run of different speeds and a weights programme as well. "
Standards have been set by Andy and Gudjon, who aim to make the squad the fittest they have been, pushing them to their best as one of Gudjon's main focuses since his arrival has been to improve the squad on their fitness and strength. This year, double sessions are in place as improvements look to be taken even further.
Andy continues: "We want the whole squad to be fitter and stronger this year, not just the senior pro's but the younger players as well. Myself and Gudjon have standards that we want to set them, and on top of that they will be facing double sessions when they come back so they need to be able to cope with that."
Hear more about the programme the players have had over the close season and what they face when they return on Crewe Alex World now.
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