The Virtual Terrace • Re: New Beginnings 2019
Psychedelic Casual wrote:
Reading that^ just highlights how we are stuck in the 00s as a sport.
How on Earth can a professional sports organisation allow players to have alcohol when they’re supposed to be in pre-season training (a formal period of training when they’re supposed to get in peak physical condition for the season ahead)?
I believe they still advocate for players to have “cheat days”. We’re nearly in the 2020s FFS. Cheat days were things they used to come out with in the 1990s. Do you think Adam Peaty or Anthony Joshua are allowed a night on the mickey at a training camp? A glass or two of red wine with a meal maybe but a night on the mickey?
It’s so old school it’s embarrassing!
I know what you mean and I think some clubs still allow the wrong behaviours however we also to put RL players in the proper context.
I think we ask a huge amount of our players. We expect them to be at peak physical and mental fitness for, in some cases, 40 weeks of the year and for, in a lot of cases, low pay. These aren’t highly paid footballers or Olympians (I know not all are highly paid but some are). You make the comparison to Anthony Joshua. However the minute his latest fight is finished he can get as drunk as he wants for a few weeks before he starts preparing for his next fight. RL players can’t do that. Add into the mix relatively low pay and a social environment that actively encourages drinking and I think it’s only natural that it happens.
So I agree in general, however I don’t think we should go overboard. I don’t have a problem with the players having a few drinks or having the odd takeaway. It’s as long as it’s not regular and heavy drinking ala Hardaker.
Statistics: Posted by Him — Mon Jan 28, 2019 12:04 am