How Pros Stay Injury Free

Happy Monday, Footyfam!

I hope this message finds you well!

As the European season is coming to an end we are seeing many surprises and big decisions!

As a player, the end of the season can bring a few different feelings.

• happiness and content with your performances

• disappointment with how the season went

• relief for some rest and relaxation

Regardless of how you feel, and no matter how good or bad things go, there is always tomorrow and another chance to get better.

If you win, enjoy but do not become complacent.

If you lost, it’s time for a comeback.

Today we will focus on how you can avoid injuries no matter where you are in your season.

Footytutor Upload of the Week

Still Hope For Ballon D’or?

If covid had you locked in your house watching football highlights and recaps like the rest of us in 2020, you know that Lewandowski was in his bag.

The man scored 48 goals and had 9 assists in 40 all-competition matches.

Unfortunately, France Football (the organization that gives out the Ballon D’or) decided that they were cancelling their award ceremony because of obvious distancing difficulties.

Needless to say, Lewa got a little screwed. I mean, we didn’t even get a 2020 Ballon D’or winner which feels a little weird.

BUT, some recent rumors have mentioned that France Football is considering retroactively giving him the award of best footballer for 2020.

What do you think should happen?

Marco’s Parting Gift

It’s been a week of ends for the Germans.

Kroos’ retirement, Klopp leaving Liverpool, and Reus’ last match in Dortmund.

Reus decided he was going to leave on a high note though.

During his last home match, he bought nearly every person in the stadium a beer.

A true man of class.

Definitely makes me want to see him take home the UCL title.

How Pros Stay Injury Free

Injuries.

A word so cold it could bring a shiver down your neck.

How many players can you name that never had the same impact after getting injured? We won’t get into it here, but the list could go on forever.

Some injuries you just can’t avoid, like a bad tackle or a freak accident.

But

There’s a lot you can do to significantly decrease the chances of the most common injuries that keep players on the sideline.

Get some Z’s

Sleep is a non-negotiable if you want to be a high-performing athlete.

Studies show that getting enough quality sleep can dramatically reduce recovery time and enhance performance. You can lower your chances of injury by up to 68% by getting good sleep for 8-10 hours a night.

This alone could give you the edge over someone else, but there’s more.

It also sharpens your mind, improving reaction times—which can be the difference between dodging a tackle and getting clattered in a match.

So, prioritizing sleep isn’t just about rest; it’s about staying one step ahead on the pitch.

Prehab & Rehab

The most common football injuries are muscle strains, but you can cut your chances of strains by up to 50% using a few tools.

Strains are typically caused by a lack of strength, lack of mobility, or both.

That means that strength training is a must if you want to stay healthy over a long period of time.

Making sure your body is ready is also crucial. Using minibands to activate your muscles and dynamic stretches to increase blood flow before matches and training go miles.

Rehab is just as important.

After a tough session, your body needs to recover. Active recovery the day after a hard match, like light jogging or swimming can help your muscles heal and grow stronger.

Remember, consistent load wears down your body over time, leading to imbalances and eventually, overload injuries.

Making sure we’re strong and also doing the most to recover will keep you on the pitch longer.

Listen to your body

If there’s one point you take from today’s newsletter, let it be this one (although we hope that you do all of them).

I know just how antsy we get waiting to get back onto the pitch. But getting on too early can lead to even more time sidelined.

Unfortunately, we can use Kimpembe as an example.

The World Cup champion was fighting an Achilles strain in September of 2022.

He pushed to get back on the pitch, and when he finally returned in February 2023, he had to be stretchered off because that same Achilles had ruptured.

He went into surgery and was supposed to be out for four to six months. However, he began to train a bit too much too early.

After almost a full year of headlines reading that times were close to seeing Kimpembe back on the pitch, he was back in the operating room for a second surgery.

Small injuries escalate when you don’t give them the proper time to heal.

You only get one body and one career.

Be smart with them.

For when you’re ready to improve

Grab our NEW Performance Ascension Blueprint!

Until next time,

Footytutor