The coronavirus crisis has made it hard to hold any sporting activity or to be able to maintain a football team in full fitness and activities at Maccabi Tel Aviv’s youth team are being held by “remote control” as each individual worries about their own and their families’ health.
The coaching staff of the under-19 team, Maccabi “Shahar,” have created a weekly work programme for the players and they all keep in touch with each other and monitor progress using the Zoom app, head coach Eliezer Ben Aharon said.
“At the moment we are mainly working on strength and stability and our fitness coach, 
Tal Volik, is in charge of putting the players through their paces. In the current circumstances it’s very important for the players to be able to maintain their fitness as much as possible,” Ben Aharon said. He added that the players are also engaged in video analysis of their performances in matches this season, and the goalkeepers also have their own training routine. Other ideas are being worked on to keep the players in form and will be added later, he said.
The team hold three online coaching sessions during the week with the staff, while the rest of the time is devoted to individual work when it is up to the players to look after themselves. “We are not policing the players and don’t need them to show us what they are doing, but they know very well that if they don’t work to keep up their fitness, they will fall badly behind when we get back to our regular schedule.
I expect the players to all work according to the programme that has been devised, and to work on aspects that require more attention and to build up their physical strength. “Each player who needs help or who has a query can ask an available fitness coach who is available to respond.” Ben Aharon said that dietary issues were also being controlled by the club and that each player knows what they need to eat, and when.
On a personal level, Ben Aharon said that he is using the time to take stock of the season so far and to better himself when play resumes. “I want to improve what I do in every way, and this is a good opportunity to raise my level as a coach. “I must also add that it is very gratifying to see the team do all it can to maintain fitness levels and it is a good sign that the culture that our coaches have created at the Academy is gaining the response from the players almost without exception. It’s also good to see that the players’ families are involved,” Ben Aharon said.
He called on all coaches and players to adopt the same approach and continue to train and keep fit as much as possible so that when the time comes to return to action, it will be much easier for everybody.
“Maccabi Tel Aviv is a family that stays united as it aims to remain the best youth academy even in these trying times,” he said.
