WITH football finals approaching but players stuck in lockdown solo running and fitness apps have been a popular way to prepare for finals.

Fitness watches and apps track key performance measures like time, distance, pace, heartbeat and cadence to help measure and improve performance.

Most sports watches also provide performance information throughout the workout so runners can track and adjust their pace and their pulse.

Strava is one of the most popular fitness apps which allows users to share workouts with friends or in private groups.

Coffs United right back Scott Cawley explained more about using fitness apps to maintain fitness and team spirit.

“You can’t replicate a football training session but the next best thing is to try and keep up your cardio.

“Although you can’t train as a team there’s lots of fitness apps where you can share workouts with friends or teammates to help maintain training and keep in shape.

“It’s easy to stop training under lockdown but there’s plenty of fitness apps that help with training and create teamwork.

“I use a Garmin watch which is popular with runners and Strava is a good fitness app to share your runs, bike rides or any workouts with team mates.

“Last year in the first lockdown a few of the lads from the football club got onto Strava and shared workouts with a variety of running challenges, I think it really helped with our preseason fitness and we started the season in good shape,” said Cawley.

Coffs United midfielder Scott Goddard believes sharing workouts creates a sense of accountability.

“We expect that each of us turn up to regular training sessions, and people will be wondering where you are if you don’t.

“While not to the same extent, sharing what you’ve been up to recreates that sense of accountability,” said Goddard.

Although players can’t train together during lockdown, the fitness apps can help with camaraderie.

“There’s always a bit of banter and healthy competition around who’s hitting the fastest and longest runs.

“Great way for us to keep an eye on each other over the off-season too.

“The watch and apps give us a lot of feedback in areas to improve and measure our fitness levels, which will ensure we’re as sharp and ready as we can be when football comes back on,” said Cawley.

 

By David WIGLEY