Chapter 131 - First Practice Session (1/2)

After the introductions, Coach Albert and Coach Sarah had the Division-One eleven start with a dynamic warmup.

Albert and Sarah had them to many exercises before starting the real workout.

While Coach Albert assigned and watched over the players doing warmups, Coach Sarah explained the importance of warmup.

Sarah: ”Warming up usually consists of low-key cardiovascular activity such as walking or jogging before running. To warm up, gently use all the same muscles you plan to use for the fitness activity.

It helps your heart prepare for the extra workload. Low-intensity warmups gradually increase heart rate and circulation, so you are better prepared to handle higher intensity exercise.

Taking time to warm up will also increase your body temperature, so you perform like a well-oiled machine.

As your body temperature increases, you'll loosen your joints and increase blood flow to your muscles. That means less stress on joints and tendons.

Warm, well-lubricated joints prepare the body to execute sudden or explosive movements with ease. You'll reduce the likelihood of acute injury and perform with greater vigor, too. Warmed up muscles also reduce the incidence of overuse injuries.”

Albert spoke as he moved around the group of players doing the warmup exercises.

Albert: ”Till what age do you guys want to play basketball?”

Douglas was the first one to answer.

Douglas: ”Till I am sixty years old.”

Albert laughed, hearing Douglas' reply and said.

Albert: ”If you want to play for that long, you need to show your body some love. Unlike regular people, athletes' bodies go through a more eminent usage, so you need to prepare your body to handle the extreme stress that you will be putting on it.

So, if you guys want to play at the highest level for a long time, make sure that you take care of your bodies, your bodies are your primary asset.”

-*-*-*-

After the warmups were over, the coaches immediately began them with the workouts.

She handed the files to their respective players and spoke.

Sarah: ”These are your workout menus. They are generalized menus that were made for the positions you play.

For example, the menu for center and power forwards focus on strength and power, and the small forward and guard menus were designed for agility.”

Albert looked at the players, who had opened their files to check their menus.

Albert: ”We will observe you for a few days and then regularly update the menus to personally fit your needs.

Even if you play the same positions doesn't mean that you will be playing it the same, but these generalized menus are a stable place to start.”

-*-*-*-

Shun opened his file and started to read the physical menu for a guard.

Monday: Upper Body Workout No. 1 and Conditioning

Wednesday: Conditioning

Thursday: Upper Body Workout No. 2 and Conditioning

Friday: Agilities and Lower Body Workout No. 2

Saturday: Conditioning

Sunday: Off.

Shun: 'Upper body and Lower body both have two different regiments. There is a lot of conditioning, well those are important to maintain the body at peak form.

But, I hope that they could work in a strength menu in their somewhere. I should tell that to the coach when he asks for feedback.'

Shun flipped a page, and his eyes bulged when he was what was written on the page.

Shun: 'Oh, crap. This is crazy.'

Shun: 'I haven't exercised this much ever.'

Coach Albert came near Shun and spoke to him.

Albert: ”We had to water down the menu we gave to the others because of your age. You still might think that this is still too much for you, and I can understand that.

Young players like you focus on overall body development rather than the menu we gave you.