UPSI Strength & Conditioning Conference 2020 (UPSISC2020)
INVITED SPEAKER:
Physical Conditioning Preparation during Covid-19 Movement Control Order: The UiTM FC Approach
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Raja Mohd Firhad Raja Azidin,
Zulkifli Abd Kadir, Zaiham Abdul Hamid, Mohammad Hafizi Salim, Wan Mustaffa Wan Ismail, Muhd Shahreen Nizam Sharuddin, Irwan Jamil.
Faculty of Sports Science & Recreation, UiTM
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in postponement in the Malaysia Professional Football League matches and training sessions. This unprecedented disruption has created an uncertain future landscape related to training practices during strict movement control orders (MCO), which may cause a significant detrimental physical impact on football players. Therefore, developing an effective and periodized physical conditioning program for players during MCO is very important for a safe and enhanced return to training and competition. This presentation aims to firstly address the challenges associated with an unexpected disruption in training and competition preparation. Secondly, this presentation will provide information related to the physical conditioning program which can be utilized to offset the detrimental physical adaptation during MCO.
Raja Mohd Firhad Raja Azidin
Raja Mohammed Firhad Raja Azidin is an Associate Professor and the Deputy Dean (Academic Affairs) at the Faculty of Sport Science and Recreation, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM). He completed his Ph.D. at Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU), United Kingdom focuses on developing biomechanical and neuromuscular injury risk assessment in football players. He also has a special interest in strength and conditioning for high performance athletic success. He has consulted with a variety of national and international sports organizations including National Football Academy UiTM-MOE-FAM, Football Association of Selangor, Malaysia National Institute of Sports, National and State (Terengganu, Selangor and Wilayah Persekutuan) Sports Council, Football Association of Malaysia, Royal Malaysian Polo Association, Sekolah Bola Football Academy and Laos Football Federation. He currently served as Head of Sports Science and Performance for UiTM Football Club, competing in Professional Malaysia Super League. He oversees the fitness and rehabilitation areas of the club with a particular focus on player football-specific physical development and monitoring training load, together with initiating applied research in football-related areas. He has published several peer-reviewed journal articles on the influence of fatigue on biomechanical and neuromuscular markers of injury risk during dynamic tasks and developing injury risk assessment for injury prevention, screening, rehabilitation and return to play. His current research interest is related to developing high performance physical conditioning intervention for elite athletes. He is also the President of the Malaysia Strength and Conditioning Association (MSCA).