Watch: Lazetic ahead of Tiberias

“A good time to get better and come back stronger”

As the MTA Youth Academy copes with the constraints of the coronavirus situation, our girl team player, Liana's Hirsh, shares her thoughts about the situation

The girl team player, Liana Hirsh, shares her thoughts and feelings with us on the Academy’s official Instagram account. Watch the clip:

The girl team player, Liana Hirsh, shares her thoughts and feelings with ...

Homework 2: Technical moves for the Youth Academy

The Maccabi Tel Aviv Youth Academy has produced videos with training skills for the players to be able to practice while the remain at home during the coronavirus lockdown. Watch the 2nd video here

Omer Kabilo: “A very challenging time”

As the MTA Youth Academy copes with the constraints of the coronavirus situation, the U17 goalkeeper, Omer Kabilo, shares his thoughts about the situation

U17 team goalkeeper, Omer Kabilo, shares his thoughts and feelings with us on the Academy’s official Instagram account. Watch the clip:

U17 team goalkeeper, Omer Kabilo, shares his thoughts and feelings with us ...

Youth Academy head sends Passover greetings

Guy Zukerman, the manager of Maccabi Tel Aviv's Youth Academy, shares his Passover message to the staff, the players, and their parents

With the club under lockdown as we head into the holiday, Guy Zukerman, the manager of Maccabi Tel Aviv’s Youth Academy, shares his Passover message to the staff, the players, and their parents:

Dear players, parents, coaches and Academy staff,

It’s hard to comprehend the situation that has been forced on us during this past month. The inability to train and play football, the game we love, is very difficult but it is very important at this time to maintain everybody’s health, and stay home and follow instructions.

It is heartwarming to watch as players of all ages work on their fitness in their home environment. I hope the situation will improve quickly and that we will be able to get back into training and playing, and most important, to be able to see you all during the week and on Saturdays.

I take this opportunity to wish you all a healthy and joyous holiday and hope that we may swiftly get back to our regular lives and to playing football.

With the club under lockdown as we head into the ...

Ori Halevi: “I miss football and the training routine”

As the MTA Youth Academy copes with the constraints of the coronavirus situation, the U17 striker, Ori Halevi, shares his thoughts about the situation

U17 team striker, Ori halvei, shares his thoughts and feelings with us on the Academy’s official Instagram account. Watch the clip:

U17 team striker, Ori halvei, shares his thoughts and feelings with us ...

Homework: Technical moves for the Youth Academy

The Maccabi Tel Aviv Youth Academy has produced a video with training skills for the players to be able to practice while the remain at home during the coronavirus lockdown. Watch it here

A message to the Academy from Patrick Van Leeuwen

Maccabi Tel Aviv  Performance Director Patrick Van Leeuwen sends his best wishes during these unprecedented times to all the players, the coaching staff and to parents

These are unprecedented times for the whole world as it deals with the coronavirus outbreak and the Maccabi Tel Aviv Youth Academy is no different, as it ensures that players are able to keep fit and healthy in accordance with a plan prepared by the coaching staff. Performance Director Patrick Van Leeuwen has sent the following special message:

“Hi to all players, parents and coaches,
We haven’t had the chance to enjoy any games during the past few weeks and to see you around the grounds at Kiryat Shalom or at away matches. Let’s hope that the situation will improve and that we will be able to meet each other again very soon.

I see more and more players are active and are continuing to exercise in fields, on their balcony or in their gardens, and I note that many parents are turning into personal trainers or video specialists.

I just want to encourage you all to keep it up and enjoy the moments you can spend both on football and with your family. For now, please all stay safe and stay at home. I hope to see everybody fit and healthy when we start to play football again”.

These are unprecedented times for the whole world as it ...

Ben Hemo: “It’s Hard without football”

As the MTA Youth Academy copes with the constraints of the coronavirus situation, the U19 defender, Itay Ben Hemo, shares his thoughts about the situation

Youth team midfielder Rotem Yatzkar shares his thoughts and feelings with us on the Academy’s official Instagram account. Watch the clip:

Youth team midfielder Rotem Yatzkar shares his thoughts and feelings ...

Ben Mor keeping players fit and healthy

Like the rest of the country, MTA's Youth Academy is working under restrictions because of coronavirus. We spoke to Ben Mor, the head of the Academy's medical department, who told us how work carries on

These are unusual times at Maccabi Tel Aviv’s Youth Academy where work continues under the restrictions imposed by the coronavirus outbreak, and most contact is via smartphone apps and computer. For physio Ben Mor, who heads the medical department and is used to getting up close and personal with the players, this is a situation that is as foreign to him as anybody.

Mor specialises in rehabilitating athletes after injury and he manages the medical team at the Youth Academy. He administers first aid to players on the pitch and later oversees their recovery from injury, including players recuperating after operations. He is also in charge of instilling a healthy lifestyle among the players to try to lower the risk of future injuries.

Mor also works at a private clinic that specialises in assisting athletes recovering from injury and he lectures on physiotherapy at Wingate Institute.

“These days are characterized by uncertainty and the day-to-day life we appreciate so much has been completely disrupted. Physiotherapy, which demands close physical contact between the player and the carer, is impossible. Of course, the most important thing is to halt the coronavirus outbreak and to maintain the health of the players and all of us, so we have no choice and hope we can get back to business as usual as soon as possible,” Mor said.

The medical department that includes two physiotherapists, two medics and Mor at the helm, have had to make do with monitoring the players’ conditioning and recovery from injury from afar. They keep abreast of the players’ emotional state and their health through video contact and instruct them on what stretching, balance, movement and strength building exercises they need to work on.

The players capture video of themselves doing the exercises and the medical team can then advise what adjustments they need to make.

“It is certainly not ideal, but we do see an improvement among those who were injured before the pandemic, so we are certain we are having an effect,” Mor said.

“For the younger players, this is a confusing time but it will pass. We need to utilise the time to work on weak points, such as ankle sprains to which some players are more prone than others and this is an opportunity to build strength and stability so we can do something positive.

Physiotherapy’s best contribution to health is to prevent injury, so our regular routine may have been upset but we can use the time to make us stronger and healthier.”

These are unusual times at Maccabi Tel Aviv’s Youth Academy ...

Yatzkar: Trying our best under the circumstances

As the MTA Youth Academy copes with the constraints of the coronavirus situation, the U19 midfielder, Rotem Yatzkar, shares his thoughts and talks of the positive things he is taking from the situation

Youth team midfielder Rotem Yatzkar shares his thoughts and feelings with us on the Academy’s official Instagram account. Watch the clip:

Youth team midfielder Rotem Yatzkar shares his thoughts and feelings with us ...