Continuing preparations for the 2018 season, the returning athletes returned to training at the George Helal Training Center. Physical exams and tests were conducted to customize the training routine, seeking to maximize each athlete's performance.

Initially, the athletes went to the club's Medical Department for a body composition assessment. This exam measures each player's mass and fat percentages, with the goal of establishing a specific activity routine based on this data.

Next came cardiorespiratory endurance testing, which took place on Field 3. The first stage consisted of the "Yo-Yo Test," in which runs gradually increasing in speed are performed on a marked area of ​​the field. The morning session was completed with alternating speed runs on a pre-established circuit.

In the afternoon, the ball became part of the training. After training at Flamengo's Performance Excellence Center, which included injury prevention and muscle activation exercises, the athletes headed to Field 4.

The training session, which included youth players, began with a focus on changing direction, passing the ball between stakes in the field, and exchanging long and short passes. Next, it was time to work on maintaining possession, divided into three teams of four players each.

Finally, collective work took place on a reduced field, in order to evaluate the physical and technical conditions of the group by simulating game situations. At the end of the activities, physical trainer Gustavo Araújo explained the activity of this Friday (05).

"In the morning, a body composition assessment was performed to determine who needed a little more dedicated work to reduce their body fat percentage. Then we did the 'yo-yo endurance' assessment to measure their resistance level and, at a certain point, differentiate their workloads," commented Gustavo.

"In the afternoon, we did strength training in the gym and returned to the field to introduce ball work. We started with a mini-game activity, so the athletes could get specific conditioning for the start of the season," concluded the coach.