Manse PP leans on Varala testing as Superpesis title defences begin

Manse PP's men and women start their Superpesis seasons this week and are tapping the Varala Sports Institute for testing and conditioning, Tamperelainen reports.

Varala specialists Tiia Hautala and Pauliina Savijoki handle much of the club's physical preparation. Hautala, a former heptathlete, begins her tenth season as the women's strength and conditioning coach. She also contributes to several players' running coaching. Savijoki has worked as the men's strength coach and has served as the teams' dedicated tester for years.

The club uses a level endurance test, various speed tests and power-production measurements to map each player's needs; the men also undergo speed-endurance testing. Testing is treated as part of training — a speed test can double as a speed workout — and the data are used to decide who needs more strength, more speed or reduced load.

Hautala stresses close cooperation between the head coach and the conditioning staff so practice and physical work fit together. Varala's package also includes physiotherapy, mental coaching and nutrition guidance, and the institute and club aim to have nagging problems resolved by November before the strength-focused phase.

Manse PP's men open Tuesday at Kauppi at 18:00 against Imatran Pallo-Veikot, with another home game Friday against Pattijoki. The women's season starts Friday in Jyväskylä against Kirittäret; their first home match is next Thursday versus Joensuun Maila.