Text by: Sport & Strategie, Robert Hesen
Heracles leads the way with a performance strip that challenges football players to engage in versatile movement.
First-team players at Heracles Almelo will soon engage in activities like footvolley in a padel court, basketball on an asymmetrical court, or improving football skills on a sprint hill. These innovative training methods are part of the performance strip, officially opened on November 13.
Richard Korteland (Mayor of Almelo), Jan Smit (Honorary Chairman of Heracles), Hans Morsink (Chairman of the Supervisory Board), and Rob Toussaint (General Director) officially opened the performance strip, part of the club’s new training complex. Following the switch to natural grass in the stadium, the club upgraded its facilities, adding two hybrid training fields (one heated) next to the stadium. Positioned between them is the 2,000 m² performance strip, designed to enhance player development through diverse training opportunities.
The performance strip, also called a Skills Garden, is based on the Athletic Skills Model (ASM), a practical and scientific approach emphasizing versatile movement. This model aims to help athletes develop holistically, reduce injuries, and find more enjoyment in their sport through versatile training methods.
Haaland and Ibrahimovic
In addition to scientific evidence supporting versatile movement, numerous examples from professional football illustrate its benefits. For instance, Erling Haaland played handball, Marco van Basten practiced diving, Zlatan Ibrahimovic trained in taekwondo, and Jari Litmanen played ice hockey. Jackie Groenen, a Dutch international, was a national judo champion in her teens. Each of these athletes credits the skills developed in these sports with enhancing their football abilities.
With this vision, the ASM has designed over fifty locations in the Netherlands and abroad. Heracles Almelo is the second professional football club, after Ajax in 2012, to implement a Skills Garden. Additionally, the ASM has created (indoor) training facilities at the KNVB campus, PSV, and Almere City.
A strong foundation leads to better performances
René Wormhoudt, founder of the Athletic Skills Model (ASM), developed this approach alongside Prof. Dr. Geert Savelsbergh from VU Amsterdam. With 25 years as a strength and conditioning coach at Ajax and 12 years with the Dutch national team, Wormhoudt observes that today’s children and athletes are less versatile due to less outdoor play. He emphasizes that a strong, varied foundation leads to better performance, fewer injuries, and adapts to the growing demands in football, requiring a different training approach.
Wormhoudt emphasizes the growing importance of athletic ability in football. While playing football remains essential for skill development, he believes that additional activities, like improving hand-eye coordination or climbing, are equally valuable. Whether a player is 15, 26, or 36, maintaining versatility in training is crucial. The Skills Garden at Heracles makes this easier, providing a dedicated space for versatile training approaches that support overall athletic development.
"As a club, we are convinced that versatile movement is crucial for the development of footballers. This belief drives the integration of diverse training methods to enhance overall athletic ability."
Nico-Jan Hoogma - Technical director Heracles
Fundamental 10
The performance strip at Heracles allows players to practice the “Fundamental 10!,” a concept from the Athletic Skills Model. These 10 basic movement skills go beyond football and include balancing, falling, rolling, tumbling, and spinning, among others. Science shows that these basic movement skills interact with one another, making a comprehensive and varied training approach increasingly important for overall athletic development.
Playing outside
Heracles’ Technical Director, Nico-Jan Hoogma, is pleased with the new performance strip. “It makes me happy, yes,” he says. “As a club, we are convinced that varied movement is good for the development of footballers.” The 56-year-old former player for FC Twente, Heracles, and HSV also notes that children today, and future professional footballers, play outside less, missing out on the benefits of varied movement. “In my youth, I roller-skated, climbed trees, played hopscotch, and more, alongside football. That’s how you should view this. We created a playground where you can do everything, so you’ll ultimately become a better footballer.”
Hoogma states that Heracles has made a “giant leap forward” with its training facilities but emphasizes that “football remains the core business.” He highlights that the new facilities will be integrated into the team’s training program to enhance development.
Societal purposes
The development of the new training complex at Heracles Almelo cost around 5 million euros, with approximately 1 million euros allocated to the performance strip. The funding was provided by the “Vrienden van Heracles” (Friends of Heracles), a group of investors. This investment will be repaid over 15 years, meaning Heracles does not need to use its own capital for the project.
The performance strip at Heracles Almelo is initially intended for the club’s 30 first-team players. However, Technical Director Nico-Jan Hoogma mentioned that the club is exploring ways to extend it to academy players as well. Furthermore, they aim to use the facility for broader societal purposes, particularly for youth in Almelo. With childhood inactivity on the rise, Hoogma emphasized the potential impact of the strip in encouraging physical activity and helping children get on the right path.
Football player of the future
Back to Heracles’ first team, Hoogma believes the new performance strip will help players develop better coordination, raising their level on the field. Wormhoudt agrees, noting that Heracles is leading the way in football by embracing this new approach. “The footballer of the future is truly not made only on the pitch,” he says, emphasizing the importance of versatile athletic development.
