How Performance Planning Supports Player Growth
Physical preparation is a key part of player development within the Baskonia Alavés Academy. Beyond improving athletic performance, the objective is to help players stay healthy, adapt to the demands of competition, and maximize their long-term progression.
To better understand this process, we spoke with Paul Suinaga, physical conditioning coach for the International Academy and two teams within the Deportivo Alavés youth structure.
“One of the most important things is helping players improve their physical and motor abilities, but also ensuring their availability.”
For Paul, availability is one of the most important aspects of development. The ability for a player to consistently train and compete throughout the season plays a major role in long-term growth.
Building the Week Around Performance
Managing physical development requires careful planning. Every training stimulus must be organized according to the demands of football and the timing of competition.
“You need to understand the demands of the sport and structure the week correctly so players can improve while managing fatigue.”
At the Academy, weekly planning is designed to balance performance, recovery, and preparation for matches.
Field sessions are divided across different focuses:
- Wednesday sessions prioritize neuromuscular actions such as accelerations, decelerations, and changes of direction
- Thursday sessions focus more on longer distances and speed development
Gym sessions are also structured with specific objectives:
- Tuesday sessions focus on strength development and muscle structure
- Friday sessions emphasize power, speed, and neuromuscular activation ahead of competition
This structure allows players to progressively develop physically while remaining prepared for the demands of official matches.
The Importance of Individualization
One of the biggest challenges within an international academy environment is managing players from different backgrounds, age groups, and levels of physical development.
“The biggest challenge is individualization because every player comes from a different context, background, and stage of development.”
For this reason, physical preparation is adapted according to the needs of each player.
Younger athletes focus more on:
- Movement quality
- Technical execution in the gym
- Learning basic movement patterns
Meanwhile, older and more physically mature players work with:
- Higher performance demands
- Greater training specificity
- Exercises more directly connected to competitive football
This individualized approach allows every player to progress according to their own stage of development rather than following a one-size-fits-all model.
Developing the Complete Player
At the Baskonia Alavés Academy, physical preparation is not only about improving athletic qualities. It is about supporting the complete development of the player within a professional football environment.
“Even though we train groups of players, our focus should always be on the individual improvement of each player.”
This philosophy aligns with the broader Academy model, where training, education, recovery, and competition all work together to support long-term growth.
By combining structured planning, individualized development, and professional methodology, the Academy aims to help players build the physical foundation required for higher levels of football.
Interested in Experiencing This Environment?
Players looking to develop within a professional football structure can experience the methodology of the Baskonia Alavés Academy through its international programs and the International Football Summer Camp 2026.
Participants train under official Deportivo Alavés coaches while experiencing the same professional environment used throughout the Academy structure.
👉 Learn more and register here:
https://www.baskoniaalavesacademy.com/international-summer-camp/