In-season gains: why most footballers lose strength after august—and how to fix it

Most players hit peak strength in pre-season… then lose it by October.

Why? Because once the matches start, the gym gets dropped.

At CURVA, we build in-season plans that keep strength climbing—even while you’re playing 90s or taking hits. Here's how.

Why players lose strength during the season

Once fixtures start, priorities shift:

• Gym sessions get skipped for recovery

• Intensity drops to avoid ‘match soreness’

• Volume disappears—then strength does too

But it doesn’t have to. You don’t need 4-day splits to stay strong. You need structure.

How we train strength in-season

1. reduce volume, keep intensity

You don’t need long sessions. You need smart ones.

• 2 sessions a week, 30–40 mins

• Lower reps, heavier weight

• Quality > quantity

This maintains neural drive and power—without draining energy.

2. match your week

Training on the wrong days ruins recovery. We plan around your schedule:

• Match +3 days: strength or power

• Match -2 days: mobility or light activation

• Day before: nothing heavy—keep it sharp

Your body’s already under stress—your gym work should complement, not compete.

3. lift like an athlete, not a bodybuilder

In-season gym should focus on:

• Compound lifts (squat, hinge, press, pull)

• Explosive movements (jumps, throws)

• Stability + prehab work to stay injury-free

Forget biceps curls on match week. Train for performance.

What CURVA does differently

We build your in-season plan based on:

• Your position and playing style

• Your match load and recovery window

• Your strength baseline and goals

You get short, targeted sessions that keep you powerful—without affecting match fitness.

Every session adapts to your week.

What to avoid

• Skipping gym for weeks at a time

• Lifting light just to “do something”

• Copying off-season workouts during a heavy fixture list

Strength fades fast without stimulus. But it doesn’t take much to maintain it.

Bottom line

You worked hard to build strength. Don’t lose it once the whistle blows.

Train smart. Lift heavy (briefly). Recover well. With CURVA, we keep you strong all season.