Psychologists from Athletic Club, Levante UD, Sevilla FC and Real Valladolid explain how footballers are being trained to manage confinement and how this may help others. Maintaining routines, organising daily activities and continuing with training are some of the keys to returning in the best condition when the competition returns.

The Covid-19 outbreak has caused a sudden stoppage to everyday activities and led to the isolation of millions of people, including all Spanish professional footballers. The situation is new and uncertain for everybody which creates significant mental strain.

For La Liga players, the difficulties are no different. However, thanks to the role of club psychology departments, best practice is on offer that can help them to manage a challenging situation, using techniques that can help the wider population.

Respecting routines

As Juan Manuel Gamito, coordinator of the psychology department for the Sevilla FC academy, explained: “A performance athlete is fundamentally, before an athlete, a person, so the effects they suffer are similar to that of any other citizen.”

However, when it comes to routine, footballers follow a concrete schedule that can provide some welcome distraction during a quarantine. “Athletes at the top level are people who are used to having a very marked rhythm of activities,” Gamito continued. “They have a set agenda, sometimes a week in advance, from the time of getting up and going to bed, to the specific food plans, through to hours of training, competition and rest.”

“Furthermore, these are directives received from others (such as the coach or physical trainer), so they are used to being ‘directed’ in this sense,” he added. “So, it is difficult to be in a new personal space in which they have to organise things autonomously.”

Taking this into account, Gamito’s advice is to “schedule the day”, so that players remember what to spend time on. Within this agenda, “fixed times” should be maintained, such as meal and sleep times, as carefully as possible.

“It is good to focus on routines and try to find a space to continue training, taking care of food and, above all, keep on speaking with others so that the change is not so noticeable,” added David Rincón, a psychologist at Athletic Club.

Coping with uncertainty and stress through planning

Although a footballer is somewhat more prepared for moments of stress and accustomed to strict routines and guidelines, the uncertainty of the current situation can still be a significant challenge.