Roma’s fitness chief describes how they’ve been monitoring players during the lockdown and insists it’s ‘better to use our own facilities’ from May 4, so Government guidelines should be changed.
Head of Performance Maurizio Fanchini spoke to the official Roma website about the approach taken six weeks into the lockdown.
Roma’s fitness chief describes how they’ve been monitoring players during the lockdown and insists it’s ‘better to use our own facilities’ from May 4, so Government guidelines should be changed.
Head of Performance Maurizio Fanchini spoke to the official Roma website about the approach taken six weeks into the lockdown.
“We send the players programmes and use technology to gather data then too. Our club has good resources and is very advanced from that point of view,” said Fanchini.
“We sent the players exercise bikes, gym equipment and heartrate monitors which log their activity in an app. That data is sent to a software that we can monitor online. We’ve kept the same data collection standards that we’d usually have here in Trigoria, sending questionnaires to the players in order to assess the training workload.
“Every morning they weigh themselves and send a photo to our nutritionist, who logs the data in the club’s IT system. As the players train, the heartrate monitors log cardiac exertion, and at the end of each session we assess the effort level by submitting questions for the players to answer.
“Obviously it’s a different level of exertion compared to what they’re used to on the pitch, because there’s a difference between pedalling on a bike and running.”
Roma provide personalised nutrition plans and supplements, but also “created a psychological and physical questionnaire” to monitor problems the athletes might have when being shut indoors for weeks on end.
“We collect the data every two weeks, because this is an extraordinary situation and we need to keep a close eye on everything. We also have regular videocalls with the players, not just to check up on the work they’re doing, but also to keep them motivated and nurture the group spirit.”
Phase Two of the coronavirus pandemic response begins on May 4, meaning citizens can go running in the local park, but the Government guidelines still ban athletes from entering a training facility until May 18, a decision that infuriated clubs, coaches and the Players’ Association.
“Running on a pitch is different to running on a balcony at home or down a corridor. For the players you need to set a high intensity and maintain a pace of 18-20 km/h. That’s an important factor that we’ll need to work on when individual exercise is permitted again.
“We are perfectly equipped to maintain safety standards (in the training centre). We have very spacious facilities in Trigoria, renovated and upgraded in recent years, and it will be possible to ensure distancing.
“There are three grass pitches and one synthetic pitch. Our medical department has prepared protocols which will enable us to resume individual activity in total safety.”
Allowing running in the park would be dangerous for all concerned, argues Fanchini, especially as fans might be tempted to go up to a famous player jogging past and say hello or ask for a selfie.
“The authorities would be needed to maintain safety and prevent people from getting too close to each other, but right now I don’t think it’s right to burden them with that task. And that’s without even mentioning the risk of injury – parks have uneven ground and asphalt.
“We could have the players come in groups. We have three grass pitches, so that would mean having a maximum of three players on the same pitch at any one time. They would be kept apart. Each player has their own room, so they could shower there.
“Our training ground is closed off and monitored and access would only be permitted to the small group of players and staff that need to be there for work at that particular moment in time – it would be very clear cut.”