English Football Needs a Winter Break

by Robin Cohen⁽²⁾
DB Sporting Enterprises Ltd

At this time of year the issue of a football winter break often comes up. We take a look at the pros and give our thoughts on whether or not the Premier League should introduce some form of rest period.

There are several arguments in favour of having a break and all certainly seem valid to me. Perhaps the biggest is that it will assist the English national team in their quest for major tournament success. By allowing the players a period of rest at an important time of the year England would be able to go to the World Cup and European Championships with fresher, fitter players. So often at the end of a long English season the players look jaded at best or injured at worst. All the biggest leagues in Europe have a seasonal rest and all – Spain, Germany, Italy and France – do far better in international competition. Whilst there are clearly other and more important factors in England’s repeated poor showings this would certainly seem to have some impact.

The length of winter break varies, with Germany having a full month and most other nations having around three weeks. Whilst many English fans care more about their club side than the international team, a similar issue is relevant to the performance of English teams in European club football. The Champions League and Europa League do not resume until mid-February and most of the clubs playing in it will have been well rested, physically and mentally. In contrast, Premier League players will have probably played four games in eight days over Christmas and the New Year. Man City will play an astonishing 13 games in 47 days prior to their meeting with Porto. The Portuguese side will play five games in that same period.

All these extra games will of course increase the chances of injury, and do so disproportionately, due to physical and mental fatigue and, despite modern technology, more dangerous playing surfaces at this time of year. Many top physios advocate a winter break with former Leeds Utd and Chelsea physio (now working with the New York Knicks) Dave Hancock saying “A Winter break of 3 weeks is a must. The Academy set up (did) it and it refreshes both the body and the mind. I think the next big issue will be 'burnout' amongst physios, similar to the NFL.” UEFA has previously backed a break, citing research showing that injury levels are four-times lower in April and May in leagues that have a break.

A massive reduction in injuries in April and May would improve the standard of play at a crucial stage of the season, increase English sides’ chances of European success and give the England manager a wider pool of players from which to select his squad. However, there are further practical and economic reasons for a rest period. Whilst the winter of 2011/12 has so far been exceptionally mild, in the previous two years several games have been postponed due to frozen pitches, burst water pipes and dangerous conditions getting to the grounds.

Admittedly, given such conditions can occur anytime between November and March, there is no way of guaranteeing fixtures going ahead. However, clearly, by removing games for three weeks we reduce the risk, especially if that period happens to be in January when winter usually bites hardest.

By having a break in January we also get round one of the main arguments against a seasonal “pause” (there’s only so many times you can use the “b” word in one article). Traditionalists (and money men) love the glut of Christmas fixtures and see it somehow as part of being English. I propose keeping those fixtures and then resting for three weeks in January.

This would allow English clubs to play European football on a level playing field, reduce injuries, assist England come the summer tournaments, improve the standard of play, decrease the number of postponements. And best of all, we can still play on Boxing Day, have a pie and a pint and talk about the good old days.

Article submitted Thursday, December 29, 2011 & read 23 times.

Robin Cohen is a sport, food and travel loving man who likes to write. And eat. He helps run www.sportswriter.org.uk and www.freebetsfreetips.com and hopes they may one day provide an escape from his wholly unenjoyable career in travel!

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» left by Anonymous (130 days ago.)

I'm pro-break but I honestly see the arguments both ways. I get annoyed by the attitude some people have about it though.

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