DORCHESTER Town have teamed up with Physiques & Shapes Health Club to help with their pre-season preparations.

And the county town-based gym has introduced a new take on indoor football to help boost the Magpies’ fitness levels.

The game, called Somi, is played either one on one or by two teams of two and puts both skill and physical fitness to the test.

Dorchester’s Jamie Gleeson, Tom Clarke and Regan Coward have already had a taste of Somi under the guidance of trainer Sean Ferguson.

Ferguson explains more about the sport: “Somi football is great for any football teams wishing to improve their skill and fitness.

“It can be played by every age group from six-year-olds to adults and every skill level.

“The game is played on a relatively small pitch and has two small goals with two rectangular areas where no player from either team must enter.

“The game uses a small soft ball about the size of a standard junior football and normally a match consists of 12 players or six teams of two.

“A match normally lasts an hour but it is continuous play. Four of these teams start the game in all four corners of the room while the other two teams start the match on the pitch.

“Each game is played until one goal is scored. The winning team stays on the pitch while the losing side goes back to a designated corner of the room where the rest of the teams revolve around the room in a clockwise direction until it is their time to play again.

“Each team is given a token for every game they win and at the end of the match the team with the most tokens wins.”

Ferguson added: “In July Dorchester will be using Physiques & Shapes Health as part of their pre-season training for the up and coming season and Somi football will be included as an integral part of that training programme.

“Already players such as Jamie Gleeson and Tom Clarke are now reaping the benefits of this new and exciting form of fitness training.

“We are soon going to hold tournaments for Somi football with cash prizes for the adults and football prizes for the kids.

“At the moment, Somi football sessions are being held five times a week and anyone wishing to give it a try must book in advance to guarantee a slot as it is proving to be very popular.”

Further information about Somi football can be found by contacting Ferguson on 262162.