Youl: “Helping the players achieve and maintain peak fitness is my priority.”
Fleetwood Town Football Club’s squad have been training in YMCAs now during the last two seasons and for Youl Mawene, the club’s sports science coach, YMCA offer the perfect mix of facilities to help him achieve his goal.
Youl, former professional player for Preston North End and Derby County, joined Fleetwood Town as centre back in 2012. At the end of his last season in 2013 the club renewed his contract and appointed him as head coach for the teams.
As a sports scientist, Youl must understand and monitor individual player’s fitness levels and is required to plan their training schedules and prepare fitness and rehabilitation programmes.
Youl said: “Helping the players achieve and maintain peak fitness is my priority. We use YMCA gyms and pools for additional elements in the team and players’ personal programmes.”
Striker Jamille Matt and defender Danny Andrew are currently rehabilitating with the support of Youl and new Assistant Physiotherapist Andy Monks (pictured below with Jamille in the weights area at YMCA Fleetwood).
Youl explained: “So on match days there will be players who aren’t selected for the squad or like Jamille and Danny are out due to injury. It’s frustrating for the guys so it’s my job to keep them focussed on achieving optimum fitness.
“We’ll then come down to YMCA in Fleetwood to do some cardio work using the Spinning bikes and some strength and conditioning work building up core, upper body and leg strength.”
Andy has also been working with Jamille and Danny in the pool at St Annes.
“As part of their specific recovery programme we’ve integrated some hydrotherapy. The water helps to support their weight which gives them the confidence to increase their movement.”
Fleetwood Town’s new training ground is currently under development in Thornton and the team will have access to more in-house facilities however as a club who really are in the heart of the community they won’t become strangers to YMCA’s community facilities.
Youl added: “It’s really important to us that we encourage our fans to lead healthy lifestyles so we’ll continue to benefit from YMCA’s facilities and hopefully inspire others along the way.”
Try YMCA for free with a one day membership and sign up for special offers via www.ymcayactive.org/vouchers
Follow the team’s performance via www.fleetwoodtownfc.com