The new road of Bari, Roccaraso is approaching

While waiting to make the first signings official from the summer market inaugurated yesterday, the countdown has also begun for Bari in view of the training camp for the 2025/26 season. We return to Roccaraso, a fundamental stage in the construction of the new course branded Fabio Caserta. Thirteen days of intense work, from 16 to 29 July, with four friendlies already scheduled: starting on the 20th against Castel di Sangro, then Bacigalupo Vasto Marina on the 23rd, Campobasso on the 26th and a fourth challenge on the 29th that will close the retreat but still to be defined. A precious opportunity to test condition, schemes and harmony, in view of the official debut of the Coppa Italia scheduled for 17 August in Milan.

The assistant coach will be Salvatore Accursi, former defender of Napoli, Messina and Perugia and second of Caserta also in Catanzaro. The athletic trainer is the 34-year-old Aldo Reale with the coach in Cosenza and fresh from the experience of Udine. As technical assistant Luigi Viola, former midfielder of Martina and Monopoli. To understand what it means to set up the physical work of the month of July, just listen to the technical opinion of Stefano Boggia, athletic trainer with a past also in Bari. His task is to delve into the key themes of this crucial phase.

Boggia, Bari will face four friendlies during the Roccaraso retreat, against opponents from lower categories. In your opinion, are these tests sufficiently convincing to evaluate the condition of the team, or would it be appropriate to raise the level of the challenges?

"At the beginning, matches are played with increasing difficulty. It's normal, because these friendly matches are useful to get to the official ones with a well-oiled phase, having technical indications on the human material available. It depends on what Caserta wants. Everyone has their own way of preparing for this delicate phase. Everything that will happen in the next few days will have to be taken with a pinch of salt. The group will have to find itself and develop certain dynamics."

The summer transfer market extends until September 1st. How much can this constant coming and going of players affect the quality and continuity of athletic and tactical work during preparation?

"If the market people can spend, it would be the best for the coach to go into retreat with a team that is eighty percent formed or, at least, most of the definitive roster. Unfortunately, this is not the case because players arrive at the end of August thinking they're making a deal. Maybe they're all people who are stuck and not ready to play. This happens when resources are scarce."

When a team changes athletic trainer, as happened this year to Bari, can those who have already worked with the previous one be affected? What are the most common critical issues in these transitions?

"Physical preparation is now shared by most trainers. The essential cornerstones are common and ideas are circulating. Nothing is invented and the players are not affected by it."

How do you properly set up physical work in July, considering that you start from a condition of inactivity and have to be ready for the official debut in mid-August?

"The break in Serie B is very long. It would be a mistake if the players stopped to laze around. The rest of these days must be active, including sports and recreational activities. Otherwise, with the heavy loads of the upcoming retreat, there is a risk of serious injuries. From next week, consistent work will be needed to prepare for the departure in Abruzzo".

Bari's first official commitment will be on August 17th in Milan. How much does having such a precise and close date to start the season affect the athletic planning?

«It can be planned, although the first games should always be taken with the benefit of inventory».

How important is the harmony between the coach and his technical staff from the point of view of physical preparation? And how much can it influence the daily management of the group?

"It's fundamental. Caserta and his staff must be in perfect harmony. To understand each other, just a glance on the field is enough. For this reason, it is important that the coach chooses his men."

Thirteen days in Roccaraso: how can you make the most of such a concentrated period to build the physical and mental foundations of the season?

"Once upon a time, retreats lasted a month. Too long. Today, they last just fifteen days. The right length would be three weeks."

Fabio Caserta's technical staff is composed of Salvatore Accursi, Aldo Reale and Luigi Viola. Have you had the chance to meet them or work with them? What is your impression of the group that will lead the preparation?

"They are professionals from another generation. I don't know Reale. He is young but with a certain experience and knowledge of the subject. He is the coach's first assistant, he will have a strategic role".

From a physical and demographic point of view, what kind of squad is needed to face with ambition a long and competitive championship like Serie B?

"I worked with Ventura and Conte. To win, they wanted two parallel teams with 23 players of equal value. You need a mix of experienced people, thirty-year-olds maximum, as long as they are positive on the pitch. And talented young people supported by older players. A couple of over-thirties can be there, as long as they are physically fit."

Finally, how important is the personalization of athletic work today compared to the past? And how much has technology changed the way of preparing a team?

"They are all valid elements. Personalizing is difficult but, where possible, it should be done. At the beginning of the retreat, in fact, entrance tests are carried out for aerobic capacity, strength, speed and flexibility."