TUCSON, Ariz. – The LA Galaxy were pushed to the limit during their week-long training camp in Arizona.
According to Director of Sports Performance Pierre Barrieu, the Galaxy’s fitness program will serve as the group’s foundation for the taxing MLS regular season. Under the hot Arizona sun, Barrieu and his staff led double sessions that balanced fitness training with soccer-specific practice.
“Only the future will say how it went, but I think this was something we needed. We’ve been working hard in one specific area of fitness,” Barrieu told LA Galaxy Insider. “It’s the good old cliché about building the aerobic base; we’ve been doing the type of running that we needed to do and now we can move on to something else. I’m happy with the way that they hung in there and with the attitude overall.”
The Galaxy’s laborious training in Tucson took place after a week of testing by Barrieu. Prior to leaving for Arizona, the team ran through a beep test, a VO2 max test designed to assess maximum oxygen intake, and a six-minute track exercise.
During the sessions in Arizona, Barrieu and his medical team ran the squad through what he calls threshold training. During the sessions, players sprinted at full speed around the practice field for what the Frenchman described as a moderate duration. The exercise took place in three different intervals until completion.
The exercise was no walk in the park for the team as several described the training regimen as the toughest they’ve endured during their professional careers. According to Barrieu, the work in Arizona doesn’t simply build the fitness base of Galaxy players, but also fortifies them in other ways.
"Not only does it build your aerobic power, but it also gives you a mental edge. Some will say that this training was hard, and they didn’t think they could do it, but the time they complete it, there is confidence that comes. That’s one thing hopefully we created this week.”
As the camp wore on, head coach Sigi Schmid grew more pleased with the way his team was able to endure the training.
“The guys have responded well. Pierre is a good personality, and the guys have bought into what he’s asking them to do,” Schmid said. “The guys have all pushed through what we’ve asked them to do. There’s been nobody who has tried to coast through it. Everyone has put forth their best effort, and that’s all you can ever ask of the players.”
Back from Arizona, the team will turn their attention to preparing for the second preseason match of the season that will see them take on New York City FC at StubHub Center (7 pm PT/LAGalaxy.com) on Saturday.
“We go shorter, and we go a little more intense, and we incorporate change of direction work before we progress to speed,” Barrieu said. “Having said that, I feel like a few players will need a longer phase of the [threshold training] but that’s normal because each player has a different profile.
As the team marches forward toward their March 4 season opener and the marathon 10-month regular season, Barrieu is encouraged by the team’s fitness levels.
“I’m happy with the attitude. I’m happy that we’re injury-free, which is always something that you worry about when you do what I do,” he says. “This is all part of a process.”
