The old adage goes that any time you can get points on the road, it’s a good thing. For the Riverhounds, there’s been a lot of good the past few seasons.
Since the arrival of head coach Bob Lilley in 2018, the Hounds have gone 22-11-12 in league matches away from Highmark Stadium, one of the best marks in the USL Championship over that stretch. That isn’t a coincidence, as lots of planning goes into making a road trip a successful one.
Lilley and assistant coach Dan Visser put plenty of time in planning road trips, as having the players in ideal physical condition is just as important as any tactical preparation. While some of the longer trips involve flights, many, such as tonight’s 7 p.m. kickoff against Loudoun United FC, require loading up on a charter bus the day before the game.
When the Hounds arrive at their destination, they go straight to the field for a short training session, giving the players a chance to stretch their legs. Unlike training sessions at Highmark Stadium, which can run long or be cut short, the coaches stick to a firm time schedule, and the practices involve less talking and more constant movement for a brisk workout. (See the clips above for a glimpse at Tuesday’s training session.)
Once the 60-to-90-minute practice has ended, it’s back on the bus to the team hotel, where a carefully planned meal, team meetings, and most importantly, a good night’s sleep is on the agenda.
Meals and brief walkthrough make up the game day schedule, and roughly two hours before kickoff, the bus arrives back at the venue to suit up for game time.
It’s a pretty simple routine, but it has been a successful one for the Hounds, who have both produced results and avoided too many muscular injuries or other ailments that can be made worse by sitting for a long ride. And, as Lilley said after the team’s 3-0 win last Friday in New York: “It’s always a nicer ride home when you get three points.”
