A massive thank you to Robbie Yates for an outstanding report…

“When I was appointed Dorset Girls Centre of Excellence director in May 2009 I knew that I had a big task in front of me. The centre runs girls under 10-12-14-16 football teams of up to 20 players per squad.

The main factor I have had try to effect was the girl’s fitness. But the problem I had I did not have a fitness coach to work with. Then my luck changed I was introduced to Rachel Light Head trainer & owner of Young Athletics Training Academy (YATA)

The general fitness of the players ABC’S Aerobic, Anaerobic & fundamental movements were poor.

I asked Rachel (YATA) to design a fitness plan for the season for all age groups. The effects the fitness training has had on the players from Rachel (YATA) has been unbelievable

Football is a sport requiring high levels of physical fitness. It is one of those sports that demands not only speed but agility, strength, power and endurance. Players at top levels can run a total of 14 km in a typical game, not forgetting the frequent accelerations, decelerations, changes of direction and jumps they must undertake.

But you don’t have to be David Beckham to train specifically for football. Fitness is important at all levels of the game. Whilst being essential for elite performers it is beneficial for players of all standards since both their effectiveness and

Enjoyment will improve as they develop their fitness. The aim of fitness training in football is to enable a player to cope with the physical demands of the game as well as allowing the efficient use of his various technical and tactical competencies throughout the match YATA has worked on all the above

This includes general conditioning, aerobic fitness and muscular strength. If you are in good condition then you are less likely to get injuries. Strong muscles are less likely to tear. A player that can keep going for the full game is less likely to be late in a tackle. Good all-round conditioning will balance the body and help avoid necessary injuries. Footballers can get stronger hip flexor muscles through repeated kicking on one side. This twists the pelvis and lower back causing other problems including recurrent hamstring injuries.

Also Nutrition needed to be effected educating the players & parents Rachel (YATA) again set the standards information related to the centre has been of high quality.

The work undertaken has made such a massive impact on all players, feeling better within themselves running styles have improved I can not say in words how much the work performed by YATA has done for the players.

I would have no hesitation in promoting Rachel’s work with YATA to any Organisation in sport her work with the Centre has had the most effect with everyone including my own coaches learning from the session Rachel delivers”.

Robbie Yates

(Dorset Centre of Excellence Director & Community Coach)