Khaberni - In preparation for the match against Sweden in the European Under-21 Championship qualifiers, Italy Under-21 coach Silvio Baldini used one of his favorite drills in which he had his players wear eye patches like pirates.
Baldini told Gazetta Dello Sport: "I want them to see the field differently.. If the boys trained this way for a continuous 6 months, their vision of the field would improve."
The idea is not just a gimmick, by forcing the players to see with one eye, Baldini aims to make his players' brains coordinate their movements better and forget fatigue.
He explained, "It forces them to make more effort and concentrate more, which improves their speed and reactions, and they adapt to difficult situations. Strong focus reduces fatigue and physical constraints during matches."
An Idea Inspired by Boxing
It's a method inspired by the world of boxing, and the coach has previously tested it in clubs like Pescara, Palermo, and Catania, where he asked his players to step into the ring.
Clearly, Baldini does not only cover his players' eyes but also abolished individual rooms for double rooms and banned the introduction of cell phones into the dressing room, either to be left in the room or turned off and placed in a basket at the entrance.
Baldini, aged 67, was chosen by the Italian Football Federation to revive youth football, and he has been successful thus far with two wins in two qualifying matches.
This method forces them to exert more effort and focus harder, which improves their speed and reactions, and they adapt to difficult situations, helping their heads to help their feet.
