Renowned strength and conditioning coach Jose Inacio Salles Neto. JUNE NAVARRO/INQUIRER
BARUERI, BRAZIL—Scientific training practically holds the key to success and the Philippine women’s volleyball team is lucky to have somebody considered as one of the finest in the business.
Renowned strength and conditioning coach Jose Inacio Salles Neto has been tapped by the technical and development department of the Federation Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) to strengthen the national team program of the Philippine National Volleyball Federation.
Neto spent time inside the training camp here for three days and will help the PH spikers optimize their strength and prevent injuries during intense workouts in the team’s buildup for the Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, Vietnam.
“I’m greatly honored to be a part of the team. I’m here for the continuous technical support from the FIVB and have the opportunity to stay with the group,’’ Neto told the Inquirer.
Neto immediately made an initial individual assessment of the squad during his stay in coordination with women’s head coach Jorge Edson Souza de Brito and team physical therapist Grace Gomez.
‘Joint position sense’
“He is part of the support for the national team program of FIVB to PNVF. With his expertise, there will be a transfer of knowledge to our local strength and conditioning coach and at the same time educate our players on the latest trends on S&C,’’ said PNVF president Ramon “Tats’’ Suzara.
Neto is known for developing an advanced technology test called “joint position sense’’ for the preparation of Brazilian athletes in top-caliber international tournaments.
He will extend a helping hand to de Brito in organizing the training process, specifically physiotherapy, S&C and technical development, among others.
“This is my duty, just to give support to the staff in preparing the integration of different parts of the training process,’’ said Neto.
The inclusion of the Brazilian national team trainer will boost the country’s medal campaign in the SEA Games.
Neto will hook up with both national indoor teams in Manila on May 2, a week before the men’s and women’s squads embark on their mission in Hanoi.
“He focuses more on basic and proper movements. The treatment of injuries are likewise addressed and how to heal them during workouts,’’ said Gomez.
Neto applied the joint position sense on elite Brazilian athletes, a test which aims to evaluate the muscle movements’ perception of each athlete.
“We try to make this kind of exam once a year to direct the training plans and to avoid injuries. With the results in our hands, we can make a strength evaluation and determine the physical condition of each athlete,’’ said Neto.
The PH men’s indoor team got a silver in the 2019 SEAG Gamesin Manila while the women’s side is still looking for its first medal since Philippine volleyball was reinstated in the Games in 2015 Singapore.
With Neto on board, both teams possess a high probability of improving on their previous finishes in the Games.