Careful clinical approach to squash training

Press, 15 August 1984, Page 48

Careful clinical approach to squash training

By

JOHN BURNING

Treadmills, psychologists, dietitians and blood tests — squash fitness training has grown in complexity almost as spectacularly as it has in popularity. When squash was a game played by the social elite in baggy white trousers, training probably meant a quick

trot around the clubrooms in between a brace of gin and tonics.

One player to have traversed the gap since those cavalier days is Paul Viggers, Canterbury’s lead-

ing player and ranked No. 1 in New Zealand.

Since the beginning of Februiary, Viggers’ training has been under the guidance of Mr Paul Carpinter, of the sports centre at the University of Canterbury. They have tailored his training to meet the rigours of international competition. "Any training I did before was pretty hit and miss. This programme is more organised and clinical,” Viggers said. The programme will have Viggers at his peak for the World Championships in Egypt at the end of next year.

The training programme has been developed using the latest information obtained from the rapidly evolving field of sports medicine and melding it to the needs of squash players. Several popular theories have been overthrown. Long distance running to build stamina and eye-bulging, gut wrenching court sprints for sharpness do not appear in Viggers’ schedule. Perhaps one of the biggest myths exploded by this programme is the need for long distance road work. The longest endurance work Viggers does takes 40 minutes.

Coupled with this stamina training is sprint work which is mainly done on the treadmill at the University of Canterbury.

Once a particular level of "work” has been attained on the treadmill the level goes up a degree. “The treadmill does not lie. One day you can do 20 sprints and feel really good. That night you might have a few beers, miss a meal or have a poor night’s sleep and your performance will drop dramatically the next day. “If I was out running I would subconsciously take it a little easier and think I had come through the workout really well. You just can’t do that this way with everything so carefully monitored,” he said. Such a closely monitored training programme has been a revelation for Viggers. “Diet didn’t seem important before but I’ve come to realise that you can’t eat

pies and. drink beer and perform at your best. My wife, Carolyn, is a pharmacist, and she has helped greatly in stressing the importance of a good diet. “That doesn’t mean to say that you can't have a pie and a beer every now and then.”

Several checks are made to see if the programme is fulfilling its purpose. Every morning Viggers takes his pulse, while blood tests are analysed at sixweekly intervals.

“When we started I had a resting pulse rate of about 58 to 60 and now it is down below 50.” The blood tests are to check the levels of lactic acid. If the levels are unchanged or have increased then the training is not attaining its desired results. “When the lactic acid builds up, that is when your legs won’t go. “Seeing these improvements and Watching the increase in work loads that I have been getting through on the treadmill gives you a tremendous psychological boost.

“When I started I could go for 25 minutes on the treadmill at the level Paul (Carpinter) wanted. He must have thought I was really hopeless. Now I am working at a higher rate and can go for 40 minutes,” Viggers said.

He trains six days a week and the training usually takes about one hour.

“People who say they are doing four hours a day training are talking rubbish. You can spend that much time just mucking about but not doing quality work.

“At the moment I still have a long way to go. I am only building up and the load will get tougher as I go. As I get deeper into the programme it will take more time.

“I look forward to playing tournaments at the weekend because it is so much easier than training.” At present, Viggers Is doing only a limited amount of racket work.

"I usually find that I don’t need much time to sharpen my skills.

“When you are playing against Australians, New Zealanders and Brits the game is basically all fitness, but the Pakistanis are different. They have such good racket skills that they make you do all the running, that is why you have to be so much fitter than they are.”

Coupled with endurance running and “interval” training on the treadmill, Viggers does regular stretching exercises, an-

other facet that is new to his fitness programme. Mr Carpinter is also exploring the possibilities of incorporating a clinical psychologist into the programme to discuss mental attitudes, relaxation and anxiety levels and their effects on an athlete’s performance. ’

Viggers is having to break away from his programme at present to peak for the New Zealand championships, the final of the Adidas circuit, the New Zealand Open and a brief trip to Australia. “It’s a bit of a nuisance because I am really! enjoying the training and I can see the improvement in my fitness.”

Viggers has always been considered one of the most skilful players in New Zealand but often criticised for his lack of dedication. The culmination of this programme should see the full blossoming of his undoubted talent and his appearance in the top echelon of international rankings.