One of the Colchester United players during fitness testing at the University

Colchester United players were put to the test at the University of Essex’s Human Performance Unit (HPU) at the start of their pre-season training.

The fitness testing session was a follow-up to end of season testing at the University where the players were given a snapshot of their physiology to help the football club’s sports scientists give bespoke training programmes to each player.

While at the HPU the players had their heart rate and blood lactate levels monitored during an incremental run test to exhaustion. This data provides an insight into the success of their training programmes over the close season.

Helping co-ordinate the testing for the football club was Essex sports science graduate Perry Blanchette, who is studying for his Masters at Essex while doing an internship at Colchester United.

“The testing being carried out at the HPU will provide really useful data for the season ahead,” explained Perry, “as the club will then use these results to plan pre-season training schedules for the players.”

Perry, who worked at the HPU while studying at Essex, added: “I was really lucky to be able to gain hands-on experience at the HPU, working with a range of elite athletes. It gave me a much better understanding of the process, which has been a big help during my internship at the football club.”

Chris McManus, manager of the HPU, said: “We have a good relationship with Colchester United where we have been offering extra sports science support. The testing we have been carrying out on the squad will identify the players’ individual physiological response to varying intensities of exercise. This will then feed in to their individual training programmes.”