Foto: SV 98 20.06.2024 / English
Lilies start preparing for summer!
Getting up early was the motto for the SV Darmstadt 98 players on Thursday morning (June 20th). When new signing Sergio Lopez arrived at the Böllenfalltor shortly before 7 a.m., he wasn't even the first lily at the Merck Stadium. Almost half an hour earlier, the first players from SV Darmstadt 98 had already arrived at the function building on Nieder-Ramstädter-Straße. And no matter which face you looked into that Thursday morning, there was a smile on every face. After almost five weeks of summer break, the Lilies at the Bölle start preparing for the 2024/25 second division season. After medical and performance tests, coach Torsten Lieberknecht's team returns to the pitch on Saturday (June 22nd/11am).
All players had their blood drawn on Thursday morning between 7 and 8 a.m., and they also went on the scales to check what their body fat and body muscle percentages look like after the summer break.
“All the players really took part in the first tests. There was a good atmosphere in the building, you could feel the energy and the anticipation,” said sports director Paul Fernie, who added: “We are pleased to be able to register six new recruits before the start of training and to be able to join the team as a unit right from the start of our preparations. Now it’s important to bring the positive energy to the training ground on Saturday and take the fans with us.”
The first two days of summer preparation are dedicated to various performance diagnostics and medical checks. As early as Thursday, all Lilien professionals were asked to take an electromyography test in addition to taking blood, which measures muscle activity. Additional data could be collected through various strength and jumping exercises. So for the players it was a matter of giving it their all right away on the first day. On Friday, the Lilies will visit several doctors outside the home, where the focus will also be on the health and performance of the players.
As soon as the Lilies have completed all these checks, they finally go back out onto the pitch. On Saturday morning, head coach Torsten Lieberknecht invites his team to the Merck Stadium at the Böllenfalltor for their first official session. The training is of course public, spectators are very welcome! It starts at 11am.