This past weekend I went to Ohio to do a 3-day GK Training Clinic. We trained indoors at a GREAT facility just south of Springboro. We worked quite hard, and everyone got the benefit of some good, intense training in an effort to 're-gain' their timing and rhythm in preparation for the return to outdoor soccer this Spring and Summer. As with all of my training sessions, I require the GKs to wear 'long gear' when training. i.e.; long sleeves top and either full length or 3/4 length training pants. As the training surface at Prodigy Fitness Center is 'field turf' over-laid on a concrete pad, I asked the kids to wear padding (elbows, hips, and knees) as well. NO ONE did.
Listen, young GKs....when you train on hard surfaces, you need to train in long gear AND padding. I know, I know; everyone wants to look 'sleek' and professional when they train. I get it. BUT. Let me tell you this--as a 59 year old former GK--what happens is, when you get older, not training with padding leads to things like hip-replacements, and knee replacements. I have had both hips replaced and my left knee replaced, and I have to believe that training without padding--trying to look sleek--partially led to these medical procedures. So, I beg my young GKs to 'pad up' when training. Dude....it's TRAINING. No one cares what you look like in training. It's TRAINING.
Plus, sporting goods technology had improved substantially over the years, and on-body padding continues to narrow in profile (read 'looks slimmer') and improve in shock attenuation and absorption. For example, this year, our company, Reusch has created a combination base-layer compression garment with removable elbow and hip padding and ultra light-weight, ultra-protective knee padding for just what I'm talking about......top level, high intensity, hard-surface training (or Indoor soccer matches). Check out the CS Padded Shirt and CS Padded Short in our newest catalog as well as our Knee Protector Sleeve and Elbow Protector Sleeve--or preview these items at www.reuschusa.com
These products offer you the comfort and benefits of compression gear (muscle heat) and the protection of shock and impact protection. And EVERY GK SHOULD HAVE THIS KIND OF GEAR IN THEIR BAG FOR USE IN TRAINING AND/OR MATCHES where conditions dictate.
Yeah, you may look a little 'bulkier', but maybe, just maybe, you can avoid joint replacement surgeries when you become an 'oldster'! Like me!
May the ground beneath your dive be soft. May the other team shoot right at you. May your goalposts be 3 feet wide.
All the Best--EV
Listen, young GKs....when you train on hard surfaces, you need to train in long gear AND padding. I know, I know; everyone wants to look 'sleek' and professional when they train. I get it. BUT. Let me tell you this--as a 59 year old former GK--what happens is, when you get older, not training with padding leads to things like hip-replacements, and knee replacements. I have had both hips replaced and my left knee replaced, and I have to believe that training without padding--trying to look sleek--partially led to these medical procedures. So, I beg my young GKs to 'pad up' when training. Dude....it's TRAINING. No one cares what you look like in training. It's TRAINING.
Plus, sporting goods technology had improved substantially over the years, and on-body padding continues to narrow in profile (read 'looks slimmer') and improve in shock attenuation and absorption. For example, this year, our company, Reusch has created a combination base-layer compression garment with removable elbow and hip padding and ultra light-weight, ultra-protective knee padding for just what I'm talking about......top level, high intensity, hard-surface training (or Indoor soccer matches). Check out the CS Padded Shirt and CS Padded Short in our newest catalog as well as our Knee Protector Sleeve and Elbow Protector Sleeve--or preview these items at www.reuschusa.com
These products offer you the comfort and benefits of compression gear (muscle heat) and the protection of shock and impact protection. And EVERY GK SHOULD HAVE THIS KIND OF GEAR IN THEIR BAG FOR USE IN TRAINING AND/OR MATCHES where conditions dictate.
Yeah, you may look a little 'bulkier', but maybe, just maybe, you can avoid joint replacement surgeries when you become an 'oldster'! Like me!
May the ground beneath your dive be soft. May the other team shoot right at you. May your goalposts be 3 feet wide.
All the Best--EV