Moving from playing to coaching isn't just about sharing what you know; it's about understanding the science behind what you do. In "Fit For Every Game," Damian Roden breaks down complex performance principles into bite-sized, actionable insights that make sense to both seasoned pros and newcomers alike. As Geoff Cameron, former Premier League player and USA international, notes, "Moving from playing to coaching is not a simple transition and often quite daunting. Fit for every game is so well written and makes every aspect of performance seem so simple and clear." The book serves as your personal mentor, walking you through everything from basic training periodisation to advanced recovery protocols. Roden doesn't just tell you what to do he explains why you're doing it, building your coaching confidence from the ground up. Whether you're planning your first training session or building a season-long program, you'll find practical frameworks that demystify the art and science of football performance. It's as if you have a Premier League performance director by your side, guiding you through the common pitfalls that many new coaches encounter and accelerating your progression from player to respected coach.
Fit for Every Game serves as the definitive guide for football training. Written by Damian Roden, one of the top performance directors to emerge from the Premier League, it is a bible for football training, providing clubs, coaches, practitioners and players alike with a comprehensive framework to optimise performance and enhance player availability.
PLANNINGPlanning is an essential process to ensure that every effort is made to achieve the aim and objectives of your training philosophy. Good planning provides a long-term, medium-term, and short-term framework for the team and creates a reference point to then plan for each individual within the team over the course of the season. The term given to the process of planning every training session and every game each week over the course of a season is periodisation.
PREVENTIONPrevention is always better than cure and is a vital component of any training philosophy, particularly if you are to achieve the aim of having every player fit for every game. Whilst the dynamic nature of football itself places players at potential risk of injury, almost every injury is avoidable when common sense is applied and combined with sound training methods.
CONDITIONINGThere are many different opinions regarding how teams should train and what a typical training week should consist of all with merits and shortcomings. Providing there is sound rationale behind the philosophy, players remain injury-free and maintain a high level of performance throughout the season; it may be argued that the correct approach is being implemented.
REGENERATIONWhenever a player performs explosive actions, because the demand for energy is high, energy stores are rapidly depleted, muscles are damaged, and waste is produced that can cause further damage if it is not removed. Strategies that accelerate the regeneration process should, therefore, form part of every player's daily routine.
Quotes
"As a player, it's no coincidence that my time working with Damian and this methodology was the most successful period of my career and the fittest and freshest I have ever felt. As a sporting director, this book is my blueprint of how to get each department working to the same goals and keep our best players on the pitch performing to their maximum."
Jonathan Walters: Stoke City and Republic of Ireland "Having read this many times over to learn what made me feel so good as a player, I now understand how simple it is to prepare players for the demands of the modern game. This book is my bible as a coach, as it signposts exactly what I need to do and when to make sure I have all my best players fit and perhaps more importantly, ready to perform.
Charlie Adam: Liverpool, Rangers, Stoke City & Scotland "Moving from playing to coaching is not a simple transition and often quite daunting. Fit for every game is so well written and makes every aspect of performance seem so simple and clear. I know how good this methodology is; I lived it as a Premier League player.... I now understand the why and can't wait to use it in all of our facilities."
Geoff Cameron: Houston Dynamo, Stoke City, USA ROYAL MAIL TRACKED 48 Delivered to You 2nd Week April 2025
Some publishers release new titles early, so our ETA above could change. Publisher: Visit Fit For Every Game Limited
Published: March 31, 2025Price: £59.99 Hardcover: 484 pagesISBN-10: 1527285960 ISBN-13: 978-1527285965Dimensions: 210 x 297 (mm)
