Do you have a plan b? No?

Training in the gym or on the pitch is always made to seem straightforward.

Turn up, do these exercises in this way, and then go home.

However, how many times do you turn up and something doesn’t go to plan?

How many times have you turned up to a waterlogged pitch?

How many times in the gym is the one piece of equipment you need being used?

Yes, in a perfect world you’d be able to follow your training plan exactly as it says. But the world isn’t perfect.

Always try to have one or two exercises in the back of your mind that you can do instead of the one you planned. This becomes easier with more experience.

Is the leg press being used? Do squats.

Can’t use the cables for rotations? Use kettlebells.

Not enough space for sprints? Do wall drills.

I know the feeling of not being able to do the workout you had planned but the feeling of making it work and getting in a good training session anyway definitely makes you feel better.

If you’re going to make it as a football player you have to find a way to make it work regardless of the situation. The more you do this the easier it becomes and the better you get at it.

If you need help in improving as a football player in the gym or on the pitch, reply to this email or visit the website and tell me what your biggest obstacles are and together we can find a way through and make you a faster and fitter player.

From coach Tom