Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
Doncaster Rovers complete pre-season fitness testing at Leeds Beckett
The squad were put through their paces at Leeds Beckett by fitness coach Ben Rome, who was pleased with the way the players had looked after themselves during the close season.
“We have split them into two groups, where we have done some medical screening with them to see how efficiently they are moving around,” he said.
“This helps us plan pre-season individually, and that will help us look at things that players will need to improve on throughout the season.
“We were in contact with the players over the off-season. They are all given an individual schedule, so it’s good to catch up with them and make sure they have kept up with that.”
Dr. Tom Mitchell, Senior Lecturer in Sports Coaching at Leeds Beckett, added: "It was a pleasure to welcome Doncaster Rovers Football Club to our Headingley Campus for their pre-season testing. It was good to see the players come back in good physical condition. Such activity helps to inform Sport Science staff in their planning of the pre-season training schedule. This ensures optimal workloads and reduces injury risk prior to the start of the season. I have a role at the football club which includes supporting the development of well-being and performance skills in players within first team and academy settings. This also facilitates my teaching and research activities in the Sport Coaching group here at Leeds Beckett. The link allows me to support students within the School of Sport in gaining valuable experience at the football club in Nutrition, Performance Analysis and Strength and Conditioning."
Rovers have added a number of new signings to the side that achieved promotion from Sky Bet Two last season, and Ben has been impressed with the new additions.
“They did the same as everybody else, which we then compare with the whole squad, and the players that we have signed have done really well in testing,” he said.
“They have been at professional football clubs before, so they are fully aware of what we are doing and why we are doing it.
“So they are at the same level or at a level where we would expect them to be at. We are very happy with the condition of the new players and they will fit into the first-team seamlessly with the rest of the boys.
"We would also like to thank Dr Tom Mitchell and Leeds Beckett University for letting us use their fantastic facilitates.”