Players stretch out at the Tata Football Academy. Picture by Srinivas

Jamshedpur, Sept. 22: With the element of physical fitness in soccer increasing by several notches, the Tata Football Academy (TFA) has shifted gears to give the cadets? medical fitness a structured look.

The TFA has recently adopted medical protocol of the All India Football Federation (AIFF). The protocol involves more medical tests for the cadets to keep them in good stead.

Sources in the TFA revealed that the medical protocol has been adopted in consultation with Vaes Paes, the chief of Delhi-based Sports Medicine of India (SMI).

?Earlier, we used to conduct medical tests of the cadets on a local basis, but now we have adopted the AIFF medical guidelines. Uric acid test (to determine protein content in body), meditation and yoga sessions are the new components of the medical tests now being adopted by us,? TFA officials said.

Besides the above, lectures on motivation, team building and other aspects ? which are held on Saturdays, are also part of the new medical protocol, the officials said, adding things also has a focus on the daily diet of the cadets.

?The medical tests are done quarterly. The new initiative is expected to benefit the cadets in the long run,? the officials said.

?The AIFF adopts the same medical protocol during national camps. The national football body has a medical panel, which monitors the fitness aspects of the players. We have implemented the same medical protocol in consultation with the medical panel of the AIFF,? the officials added.

They said the uric acid test, yoga, meditation and Saturday sessions were not held earlier. These are part of the new medical protocol. ?We conducted medical tests on the cadets earlier also. But now we have given it a structured look,? an official said, adding that fresh inputs would be sought from the AIFF on a regular basis.

Shedding light on the daily diet of the cadets, the TFA officials said the breakfast includes south Indian dishes, continental, boiled eggs, bread with butter and puri-subzi on separate days, while non-vegetarian food is served for lunch and dinner, along with usual meal throughout the week. ?The cadets consume an average 4,500 calories a day,? the officials said.

They further said besides the medical tests, they also keep a tab on personal and family profiles of the cadets. The personal profile includes heat, cold and travelling as well as allergy.

?We conduct annual tests to keep tab on these aspects,? they added, ?it is necessary to keep the cadets fit, as they are going to play for prominent football clubs of the country once they pass out from here.?