Head of sports science Sam Bowring has praised the Rovers squad for the manner in which they have handled a gruelling start to pre-season training.
Plenty of hard running work and drills in baking temperatures has greeted the squad at Cantley Park this week and Bowring has been impressed with how the players have thrown themselves into preparations for the new campaign.
“It’s been really tough and the players have worked really hard,” he said.
“They’ve grasped the challenges we’ve given them this week and I think we’ve given them some really good fitness blocks in this first week.
“We’ve done some on-field testing, plenty of endurance work that they’ve managed well, and some light ball work to get them reintroduced to the movements they’ll be performing on a regular basis.
“Ultimately it’s been a really good week so far - while dealing with the hydration issues of training in such hot weather.”
Friday saw the squad take part in track running at the Club Doncaster Sports Park before intense gym and yoga sessions, with more work planned over the weekend.
Next weekend will see the first friendly of pre-season with Rovers set to visit Armthorpe Welfare.
“We’ll have a bit more contact work in the second week with one v one situations,” Bowring said.
“We’ll still have aerobic work being put into the players.
“And we’ll be looking at the minutes the players require individually in the game next weekend.”
Bowring is leading his first pre-season at the club after joining in January and is enjoying the experience so far.
“It’s tough - as it always is,” he said. “Most of the first six weeks is pretty much my baby.
“It’s been a really good experience and I’m enjoying it.
“I couldn’t have asked for much more from the energy levels and the effort.
“Hopefully we can keep maintaining that all the way through.”
