NCA in "constant touch" with players amid COVID-19 lockdown: Rahul Dravid

The challenge of ensuring players train, don't compromise with their fitness has only got stiffer.

By Kashish Chadha - 30 Apr, 2020

Head of Cricket at the National Cricket Academy (NCA), Rahul Dravid, talked about the challenges faced by the NCA in ensuring that players remain focused on training and don't compromise on their fitness while at home amid nationwide lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Players don't have access to the state-of-the-art facility in Bangalore and hence, keeping track of their progress has become difficult for coaches. 

Read Also: "The way Sachin, Dravid, Laxman conducted themselves was a huge lesson," says Monty Panesar

"Our strength and conditioning experts (S&Cs) and physios are in constant touch with them (players, through online mediums), monitoring players' programmes and loads," Dravid told TOI. "Since some cricketers are recuperating from injuries, they require a different level of attention. Even with the training programmes, it isn't quite possible for all the guys to go for a run."

"Some have access to gyms but most don't, so the coaches have had to become creative and provide the athletes the best possible solution, keeping in mind that the players need to at least maintain current strength and conditioning levels, if not become better."

Dravid, and his team, have had to adopt a flexible approach in monitoring fitness during this phase, especially for the younger lot, including players who have been India A & U-19 regulars.

"The training is different for different individuals and is largely based on what is available and how we can use it best," said Dravid. "We have to be flexible in our approach. Metrics that we use in a normal situation include weights lifted, distance run, and exertion levels. These get uploaded on our Athlete Management System (AMS), which we use to track all the athletes."

"However, during this unique time, our S&Cs have had to be more flexible and the metrics range from "number of sessions" done for someone with basic home facilities to our usual metrics for someone who has access to in-house gyms," he added. 

"All contracted players are being offered support online and being checked regularly to ensure they are safe and taking good care. This includes their injury management and injury-prevention programmes as well as the training programmes. There is regular communication between the NCA staff and all the players."

Usually, planning for the next season starts well in advance, even at the NCA level. But there is no certainty at this stage when the on-field play will resume. So those plans have been put on hold, with all the focus on the technical, mental and physical aspects of the players' game. 

"It is best to wait and watch. There are much larger things at play and the future is uncertain," Dravid said. "All our camps for the summer, which is a busy time for NCA, have had to be put on hold. The monsoon which arrives in most parts of India from June will add to the challenges."

"We do have a few contingency plans in place. Safety is the priority for everyone right now. Once things become clearer, we will be able to react. I guess that's true of all sport in the world."

Dravid's NCA team, including batting and bowling coaches, is of great help to the man during this phase. 

"To have a group of highly experienced and qualified coaches working together at the NCA, it just allows us to broaden our horizons and provide more support to all the athletes that we are involved with."

"We have had coaches who have been working with the under-19 cricketers and India 'A' and women's teams, also providing support to athletes that come to the NCA for short upskilling stints or even some minor corrections/adjustments during rehab," said Dravid, who was appointed in his new role in Indian cricket last year. 

"We also have other coaches who work along with our 'head education' Sujith (Somasundar), to develop and deliver coaching courses across the country. We had also identified some experienced Level 3 coaches as faculty. The team will start these courses once the lockdown ends."

(Inputs from Cricbuzz)

By Kashish Chadha - 30 Apr, 2020

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