The Maccabi Tel Aviv Sports Science Department and the Wingate Institute for Physical Education and Sports are continuing their successful Training Principles in Modern Football course. The course which includes 60 academic hours over 12 meetings takes place at the Kiryat Shalom Training Facility. Lecturers include Dr. Antonio Dello Iacono, Course Coordinator, the Youth Department’s Performance Director Patrick van Leeuwen, Raymond Atteveld and other coaches from the department.

This past week, the eighth meeting of the course took place. The first part of the lecture discussed goalkeeper training sessions and the youth department’s new philosophy concerning the subject. During the next portion of the class, Dr. Antonio Dello Iacono spoke about “Football Fitness” and explained how long-term training can be planned with a methodology based on scientific principles.

Jordi Cruyff, the Club’s Sports Director was the final speaker of the day and for the most part took a variety of questions in an open forum. The students asked about his management principles and philosophy such as changing Club policy or the youth department to professional elements including the principles of choosing a coach, the method and style of play and finding players that are available in the market to fit the needs of the club. Cruyff explained that the experience he gained by once being a player helps him tremendously in his current role especially when it comes to making changes.