"We're going to go over the basics; things like player conditioning, recovery, nutrition, and injury prevention. These are the building blocks of fitness in football. You'll learn how to assess your players' physical limits and know when to push them and when to hold them back."
He glanced at Hamilton, who nodded encouragingly. "But today, we'll keep it simple. I want to give you an overview of the key areas we'll cover next. Physical fitness is complicated, but with the right knowledge, it becomes manageable."
For the next hour, Sheppard walked the students through the fundamentals.
He explained the importance of aerobic and anaerobic conditioning, the role of muscle strength in preventing injuries, and how recovery time was just as important as training itself.
He didn't go into too much detail, knowing they had time to break it all down, but he gave them enough to spark their interest.
As the session came to a close, Sheppard smiled. "We've got a lot to cover, and I'm excited to see what you all can learn. Remember, a fit team is a winning team."
The session ended with Coach Sheppard giving a firm nod, dismissing the students for the day. "We'll pick up where we left off tomorrow. Make sure to rest and come prepared,"
The students gathered their things and slowly made their way out of the classroom.
The next day, when all the students were in the class, Hamilton was standing at the front of the room with a sheet of paper in his hand.
After greeting the students, he cleared his throat and began, "Alright, before we dive into today's session, let's go over the program for the next two months."
Kay, Busquets, and the other students turned their attention to Hamilton, ready to hear how the intense two months would be laid out.
"For the first three weeks, we'll be focusing entirely on physical training. This will be the foundation for everything else, so make sure you pay close attention. After that, we'll spend two weeks on goalkeeping, learning the essentials of how to manage your goalkeepers' drills. Finally, the last three weeks will be dedicated to psychology"
Kay nodded to himself. The schedule seemed well thought out. Busquets then raised his hand and asked, "What about the practical month? How will that be divided among the three topics?"
Hamilton smiled, clearly prepared for the question. "Good question, Busquets. The practical month won't be divided the way these next few weeks are. Instead, you'll be placed as assistants to professional managers, where you'll observe and help with all the three aspects all at once."
As the students heard the announcements whispers began around the class, as they were excited about this experiment as it was the first time for them to work with professional clubs even as assistants.
Kay was eager to see how professional clubs handled their training, and how their tactics were full of new aspects.
Hamilton continued, "This approach will give you a holistic understanding of what it means to be a football manager. You won't just be learning in theory but applying it in the field."
With the schedule now clear, Hamilton stepped aside, and Coach Sheppard took his place at the front of the room.
"Alright, let's get started, today, we're diving deeper into the physical training side of things. We'll focus on strength and endurance; two key components that every player needs to perform at their best."
The session began with a detailed breakdown of different training methods. Sheppard emphasized the importance of tailoring fitness programs to the individual needs of each player.
"Not all players need the same kind of training. For example, a winger needs speed and stamina, while a central defender needs strength and endurance. As managers, you need to work with your fitness staff to ensure that each player gets the training they need to maximize their potential."
Kay listened carefully, taking notes as Sheppard outlined various exercises and routines used by top clubs.
It was eye-opening to see how much thought went into preparing players for the game's physical demands.
As the session progressed, Sheppard introduced them to different recovery methods, such as ice baths, massage therapy, and proper nutrition.
"Recovery is just as important as training, a player who doesn't recover properly will be more exposed to injury and won't perform at his peak."
The session ended with Sheppard assigning the students a task: each of them had to create a basic fitness plan for his team in the practical month, taking into account the positions and specific needs of the players.
"You'll present your plans the next day, I want to see how you think about fitness and how you'll apply it to your teams."
Hamilton then intervened, " You will present your plans tomorrow after announcing the rankings"
The next day, Hamilton was standing in the front scanning the room, making sure everyone was there before he began.
"I know you're all eager to hear the results, but before we start, I want to remind you that these rankings are not just based on the number of wins or losses. We also took into consideration the strength of your teams before you started, and how much progress they made under your management. It's not just about winning; it's also about growth."
"Now, in fourth place, we have Leo. He finished his month with two wins and one loss."
There was a polite round of applause, and Leo nodded in acknowledgment. While it was the last spot, he had still performed well, and he seemed content with the result.
"In third place, we have Busquets, with two wins and one draw."
Gasps filled the room. Busquets had been one of the strongest managers in the class, and many expected him to be among the top two.
Kay saw the surprise in his classmates' faces, but Busquets, ever calm and composed, simply nodded with a slight smile. He knew that his results deserved this place.
Kay felt a rush of satisfaction as he heard his name. He had worked tirelessly during his time with Starlight FC, and to be ranked second was a validation of all the effort he had put in.
There was a small round of applause for him, and he glanced at his classmates, seeing nods of approval.
Even though he dropped one place from the last ranking, he was satisfied with the result.
"And now, for the first place. With three wins, no losses or draws, the top spot goes to Gil."
The room erupted into applause as Gil stood up, maintaining his calm posture. He had worked hard throughout the month, and his hard work had paid off.
Even Kay found himself clapping for Gil's well-deserved achievement. Though everyone had done well, it was clear that Gil had gone above and beyond in leading his team.
Once the applause died down, Hamilton added, "Now, as I mentioned earlier, these results are not just about wins and losses. We evaluated the overall progress of your teams, including their form before you took over. Some of you worked with weaker teams and helped them achieve great results, while others had strong teams and managed to maintain that strength. Gil, you did an excellent job with your team's consistency, and Kay, your work with Starlight FC was especially impressive considering the challenges you faced."
Hamilton glanced at the clock before saying, "Now that we've reviewed the rankings, you will present your fitness plans. Coach Sheppard is with us here, and he would evaluate your work."
See you in the next chapter...
- - - - Author's note - - - - -
Hey everyone!
The rankings are in, and Kay came in second place. What do you think about this ranking? Do you think Kay or Busquets deserves a higher spot? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!