Soccer.Star of tomorrow in full growth: how are their bodies managed in Clairefontaine?

His name is Melvyn, measures 1.50 m and weighs 34 small kilos.He shares his room with Mehdi, who culminates at 1.69 m and 50 kg.Both are 13 years old and are residents of the National Football Institute (INF) in Clairefontaine.The differences in size and weight are legion in this emblematic pre-training center, where forty-six potential future stars in the round ball are rubbed shoulders, divided into two promotions of twenty-three depending on their year of birth.

"They have the same chronological age (13-14 years), but a much more fluctuating biological age, which can be estimated between 11 and 15 years old.These are kids who grow very quickly.Some take up to 10 cm in a year and a half.These words have been from Yoan Deloze, 28, Athletic preparer of the INF for a year and a half. Recruté en provenance de l’AS Saint-Briest, club de N2 situé dans la banlieue de Lyon, il a d’abord travaillé au centre de formation de l’OL, où il a rencontré Christian Bassila, directeur de l’INF depuis le 1^er juillet 2019.

Read.INTERVIEW.Christian Bassila: "In Clairefontaine, we have to prepare young people in the ultra-violent football"

Yoan Deloze is also a physical trainer of the French U17 team and member of the Clairefontaine Research and Performance Unit.Regarding his role in the INF, he assures that the bodies of young footballers are not dissected by science and subjected to a battery of sensors tracking down the slightest data likely to inform about everyone's state.Everything in its time: "It's too early.These young people have a lot of bases to acquire.You have to go step by step, and not copy everything that does well with the big ones.Subjective data, that is to say their feelings and our visual impression, are our priorities.»»

For Yoan Deloze to collect their sensations, the young people of INF must fill out a questionnaire on their phone after each training session."They are asked how they found the intensity of the session, if they feel the slightest pain, if they consider themselves dynamic on the ground, if they sleep well, if they feel the slightest stress or the leastfrustration.»» Cette méthode permet également de « rendre ces jeunes acteurs de leurs corps, donc de leur sport»».

Read.REPORTAGE.Football: In the heart of the inf Clairefontaine, manufacturing in champions, students and citizens

From this base, the technical team lightens and personalizes the sessions, if necessary."We also directly send a young person to the medical center for a specific medical protocol or care with physiotherapists.»» Détenteur du label Fifa Excellence, composé d’une équipe pluridisciplinaire et restreinte dirigée par le Dr Pascal Maillé, cet établissement fait partie des rares qui ne puissent être visités au Centre national du football (CNF) de Clairefontaine, pour des raisons de confidentialité.Between 100 and 120 professional players consult it each year to rebuild a health.

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