During exercise the body uses up large amounts of energy in three different ways. The ATP/CP system, anaerobic system and the Aerobic system all combine during periods of exercise to allow our bodies to continue exercise or playing sport. Most sports have a major system which takes up the bulk of the energy production during the activity and the timing in switching from one to another. This plays a major role in success in the playing arena. In a sport such as Australian Rules football it is important that the systems can switch back and forth between one another. Whilst in marathon running or 100m sprinting one system provides the bulk of energy production. This is why training energy systems to function at an optimal level is so …show more content…

Some players cover up to 30 kilometres a game in running so it is very important to have a solid base of aerobic fitness as a foundation. Through out the game players are required to make multiple efforts at the ball. Whilst these sprints are only small with usually a max of 30 metres, a player may still be required to do upwards of 50 of these sprints in one game. This means for a player to reach the elite level speed as well as endurance are both vital parts of a footballer’s skills. Of course the level of endurance vs. speed also varies from each position. An onballer or follower is required to follow the ball continuously around the ground and therefore need a much higher aerobic capacity to cover more ground. A player who plays a more stationary position such as fullfoward needs to be able to sprint away from his opponent on a lead multiple times in a game. Once the ball is cleared away from the forward 50 a forward can rest until the next forward thrust. A Forward also needs greater muscular strength to push of large opponents. Whilst followers generally have more space to be evasive and move around opponents. So with so many difference in requirements of fitness it is no wonder players spend their off season do so much specialized work fro their position before returning to team training once the season starts.

For a forward or defender to increase speed and improve the ATP/CP energy