Training Products
Equipment for running a football session: inflatable defenders in two sizes that stand in for a wall or a marking player, a goalkeeper reaction rebound net that deflects the ball unpredictably, and a magnetic coaching board for setting up plays on the sideline. Delivery within Thailand is free.
The defenders come in 110cm and 175cm. Both are made from 0.7mm PVC vinyl (which is thicker than some alternatives) with lifting handles, and both have two chambers: the top is inflated with air and the bottom takes water for ballast. Filled completely, the 175cm reaches 22kg and the 110cm reaches 10kg, which is heavy to carry and puts more load on the handles. They can stand upright with the base only half-filled with water, so that is usually the suggested amount, making them around 10kg and 5kg respectively. Multiple of the tall defenders can be combined to build a free kick wall.
The goalkeeper reaction rebound net is a 2.8 x 2 m grid of elastic cords threaded with foam balls in three sizes, laid flat in front of the goal. A ball played onto it can stay low, pop up to half height, loop high or kick off sideways, so the goalkeeper has to react to the deflection. It comes with 4 water-filled bases for artificial turf and indoor floors, and 4 steel ground pegs for grass.
The coaching board is 40 by 30cm and arrives with a pen, magnetic markers, batteries and a carry bag. There is nothing to assemble - it's ready for immediate use.
The training range of products is meant to work alongside the testing range: train a skill or an aspect of fitness, then measure it. A squad using the defenders for finishing practice can track sprint workload in the same session with a GPS tracker, or check their vertical jump performance each month with a Vertec device.
Filling and looking after the defenders
Both defenders have two separate chambers and the manual is specific about how to fill each one.
The bottom chamber takes water and should be about half full. That is enough to keep the defender upright while staying light enough to carry, and it puts less strain on the lifting handles than filling it completely full. The top chamber is inflated with air, which takes about one minute by mouth for the 110cm and three minutes for the 175cm. A pump works if the valve size matches. They should be inflated to firm rather than hard, to avoid overinflating. Turn the handles toward the back before a session starts.
A repair patch is included with each defender, to repaid punctures. To use it, deflate the chamber, cut the patch to size, clean the area and let it dry for ten minutes, press the patch down firmly, then leave it twenty minutes before inflating again. Keeping the water chamber at half full, and the inflation level at 'firm' also reduces the chances of damage in the first place.
Common Questions
Which size defender should I buy?
The 110cm suits younger players and drills where the ball is played low or around the mannequin, and the 175cm stands closer to adult height for crossing, finishing and free kick walls. Both are 0.7mm PVC vinyl with lifting handles, and both are ballasted with water rather than sand, so they empty out for transport and storage. Several of the taller size are needed to build a free kick wall.
How much water goes into a defender?
About half full is best. That is enough to keep it upright while staying light enough to carry, and it puts less stress on the lifting handles than filling it completely full. A completely full chamber brings the 175cm model to 22kg and the 110cm to 10kg, while half full is around 10kg and 5kg respectively. The top chamber is separate and is inflated with air, by mouth in about one minute for the smaller and three minutes for the larger, or with a pump if the valve size matches.
What happens if a defender gets punctured?
A repair patch is supplied with each one and the manual gives the method. Deflate the chamber, cut the patch to size, clean the area and let it dry for ten minutes, then press the patch down firmly and leave it for twenty minutes before inflating again. Keeping the water chamber at half full, and the inflation level at 'firm' also reduces the chances of damage in the first place.
Can the goalkeeper rebound net be used on artificial turf?
Yes, it works on artificial turf and indoor floors as well as grass. The set includes 4 water-filled bases, one for each corner, for surfaces where nothing can be pegged, and 4 steel ground pegs for grass. Fixing down 2 corners works reasonably well when the ball comes from one direction, and fixing all 4 means less readjusting during the session.
What comes with the coaching board?
The board itself at 40 by 30cm, a pen, magnetic markers, batteries and a carry bag. The magnetic markers are moved by hand on the board face, so a shape can be rearranged during a session.
