By Dongyun Kwon
To get prepared for the next season, Healesville junior footballers have joined a preseason fitness program designed by Coldstream Boxing Club (CBC).
CBC coach Hayden ‘H-Bomb’ Wright, the Melbourne heavyweight champion, opens a special class for young footballers twice a week for free with a customised training program optimised for football players.
Three players from Healesville Junior Football Club U14s have attended this preseason workout program.
The coach said it’s been five weeks since the program started.
“It’s been going great, and a couple of boys from Woori Yallock Football Club have joined it too,” Wright said.
“We had a big session on Saturday and one through the weekday.
“I’ve made a little program that’s suited to what they will need in their football elements. Football is a lot quicker and explosive [compared to boxing].”
The program aims to get the junior footballers fit for their football training next season, which prioritises cardio and speed.
“They do high intensity training with a boxing bag like 30 punches, 30 straights, 30 hook, 30 uppercuts, then they rest for 30 seconds and they repeat that and then they quickly do skipping, shadow boxing and some sparring rounds,” the coach said.
The coach adjusted in-between break time as well to maximise the effect of the program, reducing it from one minute to 30 seconds.
“They need to recover fast and get ready for the next high sprint [in football],” Wright said.
Healesville Junior Football Club U14s coach Benn Litchfield approached Wright to ask if he could run a class for the Healeseville junior footballers after he saw the Facebook post regarding CBC.
Litchfield said boxing is a good way to get footwork and leg speed.
“I’ve taken three boys there so far and all of them loved it,” he said.
“It’s really good for their fitness and confidence, and it’s not in an aggressive manner at all.
“It’s more about teaching them technique and the right way to get into boxing.”
More boys from the junior footy club will join the program.
