Cyrill Gerber (31) and Daniel Fitze (34) steel the EVZ pros in off-ice training at the OYM in Cham. The athletic coaches have the psychologically challenging task of making the unpopular summer sessions palatable to the players. To this end, the two have recently started using the so-called OYM Competitions: team competitions at the various performance levels National League, U20 and U17. The idea is as simple as it is obvious: instead of just challenging themselves, the players should compete with each other, thus appealing to the natural play instinct of every team athlete. Daniel Fitze gives an example: “If a teammate rides much further than another in three minutes on a bike, this awakens the natural ambition of a competitive athlete to get closer to him the next time, i.e. to constantly improve.” It’s not just about fame and glory, there are also so-called OYM Coins to be won by the individual players. At the end of the offseason, the players with the most coins will be awarded prizes, says Daniel Fitze. It is not yet known what they will receive. However, according to the sports scientist, it is clear from whose hands they will receive the prizes: EVZ President and OYM founder Hans-Peter Strebel.
The bon mot that Cyrill Gerber and Daniel Fitze have taken to heart in their work goes back to him: Training is only serious if it is scientifically sound. “It’s a privilege to be at the OYM and to be able to work under these conditions,” enthuses Daniel Fitze. The fact that the work cannot become monotonous is particularly appealing to him, as he explains: “Science never stands still. For us, this also means that we can’t stick rigidly to our methods, but must constantly adapt them to the latest findings, but also to the individual needs and abilities of the players.”
After the clear semi-final exit of the EVZ NL team, the athletics coaches at the OYM have also gone over their books. Cyrill Gerber and Daniel Fitze show how they strengthen the winning mentality in the summer months.
WINNER MENTALITY TO BE STRENGTHENED
Most of the NL cracks have been in summer training since the beginning of May. A vacation block is planned from mid-July before the – from the players’ point of view seemingly eternally longed-for – ice training takes place at the beginning of August. So far, they have undergone comprehensive tests three times during this period. Now the athletics coaches have adapted the procedure. “We take measurements in the endurance area at shorter intervals so that we can react more quickly if necessary. This allows us to improve performance engineering,” explains Daniel Fitze. This also has to do with the undisputed elimination against the ZSC Lions in the play-off semi-final after four matches. The same applies to the introduction of the aforementioned OYM competitions. “We also want to strengthen the winning mentality,” says Daniel Fitze. And Cyrill Gerber adds: “So the offseason already includes the first title to be won. In this way, we avoid monotony creeping in and the off-season training sessions simply being reeled off. Although this is perfectly human, it contradicts the attitude of always going further in order to get better. Just like Dan Tangnes demands in every ice training session.”
Over the summer, the foundations for the season are laid at the OYM.
The training methods are adapted to the needs and abilities of the athletes.
“PLAYERS ARE VERY SURPRISED WHEN WE ARE ABLE TO SHOW THEM THEIR HIGHER LEVEL OF PERFORMANCE AND THEY NOTICE IT THEMSELVES.”
Setting stimulation points, motivating, teasing out: these aspects play a major role in the work of athletics coaches Cyrill Gerber and Daniel Fitze are, as mentioned, not robots that read out data and put together exercises based on it. They are also contact persons. “After every test, we take half an hour for each player to talk to them, listen to their opinions and involve them. The players can definitely have a say in the training design, for example when it comes to setting priorities.” However, it is important to the 31-year-old to draw a clear line. “A close relationship is beneficial. However, athletics coaches are not team coaches to whom players can confide everything. Instead, we are there to train and challenge them. It’s not a friendly relationship, but a professional one.”
CREATING THE BEST CONDITIONS FOR SUCCESS
This professionalism at the OYM is a reason for players to switch to the EVZ. Just like Mike Künzle, who raves about the opportunities at the performance sports center and emphasizes its uniqueness. Daniel Fitze also experiences this when working with the new recruits. “The implementation of our slogan ‘Powered by Science’, i.e. providing training stimuli based on the latest scientific findings, impresses the players.” The aim is to explore functional capacities, for example to find out how much strength a player can generate, how long they can maintain this performance and how high their top performance is. Cyrill Gerber adds: “Players are very surprised when we can show them their higher performance and they notice it themselves. The results always prove us and our approach right.”
The athletics coaches are continuing on this independent path. Even if the past season ended with the aforementioned disillusionment. Cyrill Gerber was aware of the media discussions about the value of the OYM. However, he, Daniel Fitze and the other coaches there are not letting this put them off. “There’s no point in simply copying the training of the Swiss champion and believing that this will bring success.” The sports scientist states: “We all want victories and titles for the EVZ. But success is not guaranteed in sport; many factors influence the outcome of a game and a season. Our job is to create the best conditions for success. And that’s exactly what we do.”
This interview appeared in the current issue of EISZEIT Business.
The EISZEIT Sport & Business magazine offers background information, reports, portraits, interviews and news from the entire EVZ Family 7 times a year. As an EISZEIT subscriber, you will receive the EISZEIT Sport issue 4 times a year and the EISZEIT Business issue 3 times a year.
