Success in physical conditioning will largely depend on how the basic components of fitness can be fitted into the training program and finding the most effective way of improving each component.

To participate in football a player must reach an adequate level in each of the following components of fitness:

• Speed
• Agility
• Endurance
• Flexibility
• Strength

However, fitness is specific to each game and a coach must determine:

1. whether his players meet the general demands of the game, and
2. the specific demands of the playing position.

The specific demands of the various playing positions requires that one or more of these fitness components needs to be developed for successful performance. For example, a ruck-rover is required to cover a greater distance in a game than a set position player and consequently needs to develop a greater capacity for endurance in his preparation.

The development of any fitness program should ideally be individually structured and designed to correct a player's deficiency in any one of the fitness components. However, in practice, coaches usually have to contend with mass training involving large numbers of players. The task of catering to individual needs becomes a difficult one.