Its head Christian Machowski has told our site about peculiarities of Dynamo forthcoming training camp in Austria.
- How did you coordinate with the club arranging the training camp?
- Throughout the preparation, which starts approximately in March, when the dates for the training camp are being determined, there is very close communication between us and the coaching team. They advise us on the preferred hotel they would like to stay at, required friendly matches and the level of opposition they are looking for. They also provide us with the final rooming list, so we can prepare the hotel for the arrival of the team.
- What are the peculiarities of current training camp?
- As part of the preparation, we closely liaise with all the relevant departments at the club and responsible people at the team and the club, who are involved in the training camp. We talk to the international department of the club regarding the flight details and visa requirements. We discuss the dietary requirements of the team with doctors and speak to physiotherapists regarding the details about the massage and treatment rooms for players during the stay at the hotel. In addition to that, we talk to kit managers regarding shirt colours for friendly matches and agreements with opposing teams regarding which balls are to be used (usually clubs agree to play one half with there balls, the change). We also liaise with the website team of the club and Dynamo video production department to advise them on the arranged friendlies, match venues and kick-off times and help regarding the set-up in the stadiums for the live broadcast of matches.
In the meantime, we communicate with hotel administration and talk about all the details of the stay: meals requirements, detailed menus, set-up of the dining room, technical set-up in the meeting room, games for players (i.e. table tennis and table football), rooming list and of course wi-fi at the hotel, which is very important for footballers all over the world. It has to be fast…
The training pitch is being prepared, the dressing room is being equipped with water and stuff and the transport company receives the details of the team’s arrival and departure and the dates and times of the training sessions and friendly matches. These are just some of the things that are being prepared, there are many other smaller issues and overall, the preparation for training camps lasts for up to three months.
- Did coaches or players have special requirements this time?
- With us having worked with FC Dynamo Kyiv for many years now, there are usually only minor changes to the requirements. We always aim for improvement of the experience for the team, coaches and staff of the club. After every training camp we review the various ingredients of the project. It is our aim to give the team the perfect preparation at all times.
With all friendly matches being covered live on the club’s YouTube channel, there were some additional requirements regarding the technical set-up for the matches and the preparation of the broadcast before each match.
- How did you choose Dynamo sparring partners?
- Coaches brief us in great detail a couple of months before the training camp regarding the required matches, the preferred dates and the level of opposition they are looking for. We then work with our partners and colleagues from other agencies and clubs to secure the requested opponents. It’s a bit like a big jigsaw, as every team has different date requests, needs and expectations of the opposition they want to play. Once we have covered all requested dates, we present the names of the possible opponents to the team management and only after their approval we secure the matches and sign contracts. We then liaise with the appropriate people to arrange good match venues, with excellent pitches, taking into consideration the training camp locations of the two teams, so the travelling time for Dynamo is being kept within acceptable boundaries.
- What is the recipe for success in training camps arrangement?
- With a group of around 50 people (team, coaches, staff, club officials, journalists), there is always something happening. The atmosphere in the team is great, the spirit is excellent and everybody is very focused on their work, but there is also time for a game of table tennis or the telling of an anecdote in the massage room.
It is my role to ensure that team, coaches and staff can totally concentrate on the training camp and the preparation for the new season and that all the arrangements concerning hotel, training pitch, transportation and the friendly matches run smoothly, with no problems or delays. The close cooperation and communication with coaches, players, medical-, technical staff and kit managers throughout the camp is excellent and contributes to the success.
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