Sprint more to get injured less

Sprint-related injuries are a concern for many coaches. But we must not fall into the trap of avoiding making our players run. Quite the opposite. According to research published in 2018 in the "Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport", if players do not sprint at least once a week at more than 95% of their maximum speed, they are not preparing their hamstrings, nervous system, and body for the demands of competition. A player is at higher risk of hamstring injury if they have not sprinted at their maximum speed for several weeks and then suddenly do so during a match. Acceleration exercises and the use of resisted sprints can be useful for increasing sprint strength and mechanics. However, it should be noted that absolute maximum speed training should not be neglected.