Euro Sport & Event Management Blog

The World Cup in South Africa has put a lot of focus on the preparation of football teams, their training camps, team hotels and the facilities available to the players.  As organisers of training camps and specialists in the handling of top European teams for their Champions League, Europa League and International matches, we know what’s involved in looking after professional football teams.

Several ingredients are crucial when it comes to choosing the perfect training camp base and recommending it to the football club, who trust our expertise and contacts when it comes to short-listing the hotels and training venues. Location and standard of the hotel (cost as well, of course), distance to and from the nearest local airport, proximity to the training pitch, gym and leisure facilities at the hotel, standard, size and facilities in the bedrooms and quality of food. Ideally, the hotel should be experienced in looking after football teams, as this kind of booking is different to any other group or event at a hotel.

Our aim as the organiser is to make the stay of the team at the hotel as smooth and comfortable as possible. In the weeks and days running up to the arrival, the hotel will be briefed on the specific requirements of the team. An exclusive floor for the players is preferable, as we want to avoid guests and staff of the hotel getting an ‘eyeful’ of a semi-naked footballer walking down the corridor for his massage. Buffet menus, the private dining room set-up, massage and medical treatment rooms, kit/equipment room, players lounge, internet access and any other team specific issues the club would like to have addressed.

The preparation doesn’t stop there. Should a player pick up a serious injury, where is the nearest hospital or sports clinic for scans and x-rays? Where can we buy replacement boots and other sports equipment? Where is the closest pharmacy, mobile phone store or supermarket?

The key to a successful training camp is to always be a few steps ahead. Our motto “Part of your Team” is reflected in the 24-hour presence of our project manager, who will be staying with the team throughout the training camp.

Anticipating any potential problems will ensure the smooth running of the camp. As we are dealing with ‘third parties’ (hotel, training pitch, coach company, friendly match venues) throughout, it is all about checking, double-checking and checking again – just to make sure. Are the meals ready in time for the arrival of up to 40 hungry males? Will the serving dishes on the buffet be replenished without anybody having to wait for their steak, fish or spaghetti? Is there still enough water in the players’ bedrooms room and what about towels and bed sheets for the massage beds? Has the grass on the pitch been cut and worked on since the last training session? Have the referees been confirmed for the friendly matches, is the venue prepared and in what colours are the teams playing? Being several steps ahead at all times will ensure, that all aspects of the training camp will run smoothly and the team and management can focus on the tasks ahead.

Once the team has settled into their hotel and issues like internet access, room changes and “I have forgotten my toothbrush” have been resolved, routine and a busy schedule set in. Wake-up, breakfast, quick return to bed for some, morning training session, lunch, rest, afternoon training, gym and spa visit, dinner, massage/treatment, bed.

Each player has their own routine during training camp. Reading, the internet, playing cards, maybe some golf or shopping (on a rare day off) and plenty of sleep are the most popular. The massage and treatment rooms become the social focal point, with team doctors and masseurs the involuntary target of banter, but they are also there to lift the spirit of injured and bored players.

Training camps usually include several friendly matches against local or other European teams, who are preparing for their season in the area. As holders of a UEFA Match Agents license, we are in a position to organise these, source venues and book referees, after being given the preferred dates by the club in the run-up to the camp. Players and coaches look forward to these matches, as they usually spell the end or at least a respite after intense days of hard training, with two or even three sessions per day. The results of these matches are mostly secondary, as experimenting with the line-ups and fatigue after the intense training schedule have an influence on performances. Tell that worried fans, journalists and Chairmen, they might disagree.

The Director General of one of the clubs we work with was once asked, why the team wasn’t preparing at home on their training ground for the start of the season. His reply was “do you like sausages?”, “Yes” was the response, “but surely not every day. Change is important”, the Director General remarked. This is the purpose of the training camps. To enable the team to work hard and focus, away from distractions and the usual environment, in an effort to achieve match fitness, work on tactics and also to develop team spirit and togetherness. Our role as the organiser is to facilitate the perfect location, optimal conditions and smooth running of these training camps, always around and available, a few steps ahead of the game – ‘part of your team’.

ESEM has just launched its winter training camp catalogue 2010/2011, which can be downloaded on our website.