Immediate recovery from training

Rest and recovery from training and competition should be a big focus in any training programme. Too often the workload on players is increased in an effort to improve, yet little thought is given to ensuring effective recovery. If the body does not recover adequately it cannot adapt and improve.

One of the basic principles of training is that when a training stress is imposed, the player needs to recover in order to adapt and increase performance in competition (BASES 2016). A well designed immediate recovery strategy can accelerate recovery and reduce exercise induced stress (BASES 2016).

The following pillars of immediate recovery:

• rehydration
• refuelling

are vitally important to aid recovery whilst the common additional recovery strategies such as cooling the body and active recovery also assist.

Sleep, one of the more macro recovery methods is also of high importance.

The effectiveness of these pillars / strategies will also be explored further.