Last weekend we had the pleasure of joining the Juventus Warsaw Academy training camp in Złoty Potok. It was a special place where young players not only improved their technical and tactical skills, but also discovered the crucial role of proper breathing in football.
Tests and Assessments – Where We Start
The first stage of our work involved running tests and assessments of the players. We checked, among other things, their BOLT (Body Oxygen Level Test) scores – a simple yet highly effective tool for evaluating respiratory efficiency. This is the starting point for breathing training, allowing us to see how well an athlete is adapted to physical demands.
With these results, we can identify who needs more support in building their breathing capacity and who can immediately move to more advanced drills.
Breathing Training Sessions
Next came the workshops, where players learned the fundamentals of working with their breath:
- nasal breathing, which improves oxygen utilization,
- techniques for increasing CO₂ tolerance,
- diaphragm activation and core-stabilizing exercises.
Though simple, these techniques directly enhance endurance, recovery, and focus on the pitch.
Practice on the Pitch
The key in sport, however, is to apply theory in practice. That’s why the last part of our session took place on the pitch. During drills and small-sided games, the players experienced firsthand how conscious breathing can help regulate pace, maintain focus, and speed up recovery between sprints.
For many, this was a completely new approach, but the benefits – a calmer heart rate, less breathlessness, and greater control over the body – were noticeable right away.
Why Does It Matter?
Modern research and our work with professional teams, including Lech Poznań, confirm one thing: proper breathing training increases tolerance to effort, improves recovery, and lowers the risk of injury.
Just like strength training or conditioning, it’s becoming an essential element of modern football preparation.
✅ In Złoty Potok we made another step toward conscious football. We’re glad that Juventus Warsaw Academy has joined the growing group of clubs aiming to develop their players not only technically but also physiologically and mentally.
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