Excelsior’s Gilbert calls for unlimited subs

Excelsior High School senior football team head coach Xavier Gilbert says ISSA should consider unlimited substitutions for the upcoming schoolboy football season.

With no football played at this level since the 2019 season, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Gilbert says the uncertainty of the players’ fitness levels heading into this season should be considered. He is concerned about players’ ability to recover from fatigue and injuries, especially as the summer months, which would normally have been used for conditioning, were not available ahead of this season.

“You are coming with young players who are not fully conditioned, and that’ll make it a difficult task,” Gilbert said. “We know the nature of young players. They want to be successful, and we know there are going to be injuries as some are not fully fit.

“The recommendation that I would probably make is that although they have made an adjustment to have five substitutions, I believe they should look at unlimited substitutions. I think unlimited substitutes would help a great deal.

“We are not where we want to be, but we will have to do what you have to do and manage the players.

“It is going to be tough on the players being inactive for so long and havjng gotten a bit rusty, and it is going to be very difficult trying to manage them to last the season, so unlimited subs would make a difference.”

Gilbert says the season will favour teams equipped with better resources.

“We still needed some time to prepare. The time was not ideal,” he said. “Other schools will probably have the same sentiment, missing out on a full summer camp where we could’ve had two sessions a day, and that would have given us some good dividends in our conditioning and strength work.

“But when they are inactive for so long, you have to manage their workload and watch over injuries.

“It is anybody’s game, but the team that is physically and tactically prepared will more likely be the victors because it is that type of season, where you are going to find injuries, cramps, everything, and the recovery of the players is going to be crucial.

GOOD NUTRITION

“Not everyone will be able to manage the physical aspect as treating the players is extremely expensive. So it’s going to boil down to resources. Those who have the resources will be able to treat players’ injuries, provide good nutrition, treating players going back and forth to physios, and doctors, and such. So if you do not have resources, it is going to be very difficult.”

Excelsior will compete in Group B of the ISSA Manning Cup with St Andrew Technical High School, Camperdown High School, Jose Marti Technical High School, Tivoli Gardens High School, St Jago High School, Dunoon Technical High School, and Jonathan Grant High School. The competition starts on November 12.

sports@gleanerjm.com