Recovery from competition and training is one aspect of our players’ preparation that has changed dramatically over the last five years.

Through improved recovery from competition and training our players are able to train sooner, with better quality and with less risk of injury.

The challenge is to provide recovery modalities that will allow our players to do this. Six or seven years ago it would have been nearly unheard of for players to sit for 8-10 minutes in a bath full of ice at a temperature of four or five degrees. However, due to the immense benefits that players receive it is now common practice that after all training sessions and games every player will voluntarily have an ice bath.

Our physical recovery program has been largely based on research conducted by the Australian Institute of Sport and the observations made from a range of international sports. Some aspects are widely used by many athletes, others are quite specific to AFL and some are used exclusively by the Adelaide Football Club.

For those who wonder what happens following the club song after a game or supporters who attend training and can not understand why it takes so long for players to get showered and changed, the next 30 minutes is exclusively devoted to ensuring our players have the best physical recovery program possible.

Players will first stop at our Musashi Recovery Station for their nutritional recovery, they will then spend time stretching, riding stationary bikes and finishing with their waist high ice bath. It is once they have finished this program players will then tend to their individual recovery that may involve a visit to the club physio, doctor, podiatrist, dietician etc. as well a range of other alternatives available to the players, including:

Hydrotherapy
Blood biochemistry analysis
Ice vests and hats
Compression garments
Humidifier travel masks
Massage
Pool
Fruit & yoghurt
Glycogen replacement lollies
Electrolyte replacing drinks
Wading in the sea water
Hydration testing
Bodyweight fluctuations
On line player wellbeing feedback
Protein milk drinks
Yoga

The next challenge for the players at the Adelaide Football Club is in the area of mental recovery. The weekend’s game usually represents the end of an arduous training week that includes many training sessions in a variety of areas, a range of different team meetings and an extensive review of individual player performance.

Just recently we have made a concerted effort to educate our players about the benefits of sleep and provide some tools to allow our players to get a better quality of sleep whilst they continue to deal with the pressure and expectations of being an AFL footballer.

Whilst the challenge continues to be the world’s best in the area of recovery, the equation is simple for players of the Adelaide Football Club: Hard Work + Best Recovery = Best Performance.