Hard work for the new season was the order of the day on the third floor in the West Stand: 19 members of next season's U19 squad underwent thorough investigations and tests carried out by the fitness and physio team in the Werkstatt, the Bayer 04 rehab and training centre.
The oldest youth team under the Bayer Cross completed the diagnostic tests over the course of the day in groups of two and three. An electrocardiogram at rest, as a basic medical check, was at the start. That was followed by a workout on the training area at the Werkstatt with motivational music. That was followed by several drills to measure hip strength before functional ability was assessed using the FMS as well as Y-balance tests, two diagnostic procedures that used different parameters to measure coordination, mobility and stability with the help of a standardised succession of movements. The young players ended the tests on the treadmill with spiroergometry assessing their stamina levels.
In a repeat of last year, the performance checks for the U19 players were carried out ahead of the four-week summer break. "This means we can get straight into training and we need less time to get up to speed," said head coach Sven Hübscher. "We can also design the training plans for the lads on a more individual basis according to their current performance levels." At the same time, it is important his charges use the first two weeks of the summer break to recover so that they are able to recharge their batteries ahead of the forthcoming season.
In the final week of training there is a friendly on the agenda in addition to the performance tests. The Hübscher team play PSV Düsseldorf on Thursday 9 June. The game at the Kurtekotten Performance Centre kicks off at 19.30 CEST. The final full training session is on Wednesday while all the players will complete a final health check with the Werkself physios on Friday. The return to training for the new season is set for 11 July.
Trophies as a youth, appearances in the pro game and his first taste of international competition: new arrival Luca Erlein, who has been signed from TSG Hoffenheim and is set to go out on loan to Bundesliga 2 newcomers Energie Cottbus for the coming season, can already look back on some remarkable achievements and moments in his fledgling career. We take a closer look at the 19-year-old right-back, who can also fill other roles across the defensive line.
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