Everyone reaping the benefits of lockdown

OUR national game isn’t just back. It’s better. So let’s not carp about the precise motivation of the average Scottish Premiership player. The fact that a majority may be driven by the desire to earn a more well-buttered crust elsewhere is, frankly, a minor side issue. Most of us are surely just happy — possibly even a little surprised — by the quality on display during the opening long weekend of season 2020-21. Across the six fixtures played between Saturday lunchtime and Monday night, there was definitely skill in abundance, a real competitive edge — and more athleticism than we had any right to expect after a 21-week shutdown. Wait. You don’t think the length of that lay-off could be a factor in this apparent improvement, do you? There’s a theory. Given the one element normally in such short supply, time away from an increasingly year-round competitive cycle, the country’s leading professional footballers clearly didn’t sit idly by. Chat to players about lockdown and, almost to a man, they’ll explain how they used the time to work on weaknesses or further develop strengths. They’ve thrown themselves into intensive exercise programmes, doing the kind of leg-sapping work that simply can’t be squeezed into the usual game-training-game schedule. Given weeks and months with nothing to do but walk the dog (again), try their hand at home schooling (oh, the horror) or go for yet another 5k run, the best have figured out ways to improve as footballers. Well, they are obviously ferociously-driven individuals. Otherwise, they’d be propping up the bar alongside all the other guys who coulda been contenders, the never wozzers convinced that only outrageous misfortune prevented them from playing at an elite level. Forced to restrict their workload during normal circumstances, with sports scientists now recommending rest almost as often as they prescribe extra weight sessions, the most dedicated seized this opportunity for self-improvement. They’ve knuckled down and doubled down on themselves, striving to become more likely candidates for promotion to a more lucrative competition. It’s already paying off. And, for as long as it lasts, we’re pleased to be reaping the short-term dividends.