Advantages of conducting pre-season training camps

A new trend started in the last few seasons - Pre-season training camp. What is this training camp all about?

Currently, almost all the I-League teams, both the 1st and 2nd division second teams are going through the pre-season training camp. And guess what, most team prefers to carry out their pre-season training camp outside the regular places - locations where one would least expect a football team camping for couple of weeks.

So, if East Bangal chooses a serene beach resort in the outskirts of Puri, then the arch-rival Mohun Bagan chooses a hill resort encapsulated by fog, some 18 km away from the hill station Kalimpong. If Pune Football Club feels that the artificial grasses in Goa are good for their pre-season campaign, then Mohammedan Sporting feels that training on the loose sands of the Digha beach would help the players for the coming season.

I am not going to delve into the technicalities of pre-season training camp, but the basic essence of conducting a pre-season training camp are as follows:

• Fitness training
  Players resume their club after a long vacation, it is important for them to be in good physical condition. This training enables them to bring back their fitness level in shape.

• Endurance training
  A calculated way of exercising to increase the stamina. Endurance training strengthens and help build muscles. Classic example of endurance training would be a 5-km run across the beach or through the hilly terrains.
• Team bonding
  Another important aspect, which is highly emphasised these days. Different players embarking to the club from different parts of the country, globe, etc. This is the right time to understand each other and gel as a cohesive unit. Excellent off the field understanding among the players’ definetely helps the team in the field.

Apart from the technical aspects there are also other aspects involved when you are conducting a pre-season training camp outside the club – a strong sense of community bonding.

A classic example to this is Mohun Bagan pre-season training to Kalimpong. Nobody has ever heard that Kalimpong boasts of excellent football facilities. However, this hill town’s geographical location is ideal for fitness and endurance training. Team management wisely chose a resort, which is away from the Kalimpong city, idyll, and not visited by the tourists at this part of the year. Even after a strenuous training session, the team nicely integrated with the local folks. The locals celebrated Rakhi Dore, (Rakhsha Bandhan) with the team and presented local souvenirs to the team followed by some cultural program. A Kodak football moment of peace and integration!

Later when Mohun Bagan turned out to play a friendly match against the local club, there were around 8000-odd spectators who flocked to the stadium ignoring heavy rain and stormy weather. Mohun Bagan club secretory, Anjan Mitra reciprocated a similar feeling by contributing the match gate fee for the development of football in Kalimpong.

As the team prepares to leave Kalimpong tomorrow, they have won the hearts of the locals. Now, it is up to the decision of the management to leverage the momentum generated by the pre-season camp. Maybe they can induct few local talents in their academy, MBSFA or play an exhibition match to encourage the local football.

Very similar thing was planned by Chirag United for their pre-season training camp at Murshidabad, local aspiring footballers would have benefited a lot. Unfortunately, their stay was reduced only to 3-days.

Final take

Lest we get overboard with the *other aspects* of the pre-season training camps, it is football what matters. You make new friends, win the heart of locals, all that are fine. But, ultimately all boils down to a 90-minute game.

Let’s hope the coaches and the footballers utilized the pre-season camp to the fullest. Players are refreshed, toned up, and fully fit and ready to display an entertaining game of football in the coming season.