{{Short description|Area where football teams prepare for matches}}
{{for|a military facility|Military training area}} {{More citations needed|date=October 2008}} A '''training ground''' is an area where professional [[association football]] teams prepare for matches, with activities primarily concentrating on [[soccer skills|skills]] and fitness. They also sometimes form part of a club's [[youth system]], as clubs consider it important to have good facilities to aid the development of young players.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/portsmouth/7509518.stm Pompey training ground approved], [[BBC Sport]], 16 July 2008.</ref>
Training grounds are usually separate from a team's [[Soccer stadium|stadium]], as clubs use the facilities to avoid overusing the stadium's [[Soccer field|pitch]]. However, teams usually train inside the opposing team's stadium on the day before a [[UEFA|European]] away game, both for the benefit of the [[media (press)|media]] and to become familiar with the surface.
== Training ground incidents == There have been several high-profile incidents, at training grounds, where players have been injured in disputes between teammates.<ref>Curtis, Ben. [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/rugby_union/article4906911.ece "Training-ground bust-ups: the best of the best"]{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}, ''[[The Times]]'', 8 October 2008.</ref> [[Joey Barton]] was given a suspended prison sentence, on 1 July 2008, for an assault on teammate [[Ousmane Dabo]] on [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]]'s training ground<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/newcastle_united/7535664.stm FA charges Barton over Dabo clash], [[BBC Sport]], 31 July 2008.</ref> and [[Andy Carroll]] broke teammate [[Steven Taylor (footballer)|Steven Taylor]]'s jaw in a fight.<ref>[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/football_league/article7071885.ece The Times]{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} </ref>
== Gallery == <gallery> Image:Friedrich und Schweinsteiger 2005.jpg|[[Germany national football team|Germany]] players [[Arne Friedrich]] and [[Bastian Schweinsteiger]] training, [[2005 in football (soccer)|2005]] Image:USMNT World Cup training 20060511.jpg|[[United States men's national soccer team|USA]] players training during the [[2006 FIFA World Cup|2006 World Cup]]. Image:The Cliff (oppvarming).JPG|[[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] players training at [[The Cliff (training ground)|The Cliff]], [[1992 in football (soccer)|1992]] Image:Alanmaguirelennoxtown14.jpg|[[Lennoxtown training centre|Lennoxtown]], the training ground of [[Celtic F.C.]] </gallery>
== References == {{reflist}}
== See also == {{for|a list of all training grounds|Category:Association football training grounds}} {{Commons|:Category:Association football training|Football training}}
* [https://www.professionalsoccercoaching.com Professional football training exercises and sessions] * [[Football (soccer) tactics and skills]]
[[Category:Association football training grounds| ]] [[Category:Association football terminology]]
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