THE SYDNEY Swans are putting far more emphasis on skills acquisition and execution during their pre-season, according to elite performance manager Rob Spurrs.

At times last season, coach Paul Roos noted that the Swans could have improved their skills and decision-making. Rectifying this is a major emphasis of the Bloods' pre-season which began in full this week.

"We realise it every year but there really is a strong focus from the whole football department this year on skills acquisition, execution and decision-making," Spurrs said on Friday.

"We deemed that our skills execution wasn't up to scratch last season. So there is a focus on that.

"But the skill drills we're doing are designed with a conditioning element to them to deliver an overall solid session."

Spurrs says it's a trend followed by some of Europe's biggest soccer clubs who have structured their pre-season to include skills work with conditioning aspects.

The Swans are training Monday, Wednesday and Friday up until Christmas. They begin each session with skills training followed by conditioning work.

"Mondays are always about repeat sprints, such as 50 metres with a short recovery and repeat and building that up to 20 repeats over the six week period," explained Spurrs.

"There is also lactate-tolerance work on Wednesdays while Fridays are more endurance based with interval, fartlek-style running."

In between these sessions, the players are given what is called "low-load skills" involving less movement but skills work which hones decision-making.

Weights sessions twice a week supplement the program. On top of this is non-running conditioning work which may include a Saturday swimming, boxing or cycling session.

And the club will continue its strong emphasis on recovery techniques in order for the players to handle the load.

Spurrs is now into his second season as elite performance manager after David Misson shifted south a year ago to join the Saints (who play the Swans in the opening round of season 2009).

In the old days, noted Spurrs, the off-season was almost a total rest. Now, the players are given a three day a week program following just two complete weeks off.

"It's a bit of a mixed bag of results on the first day back," said Spurrs.

"One of our young scholarship holders did well. His name is Nathan Gordon. And Jarrad McVeigh ran a personal best in the three-kilometre run, which is very pleasing that the club best and fairest does that."

The players' final session for this block of pre-season is December 19. They return on January 5.

"One week of that two off is pretty much a recovery week and another week is like their off-season where they're given a program," said Spurrs.

"First week back will be a lot of testing then we'll really be getting them prepared for extremely high intensity skill activity with more game specific training."