Soccer fitness training is extremely complex compared to other sports. If you consider the basic energy systems, aerobic - anaerobic, most sports have a dominant requirement of one of these. Proper soccer fitness needs both. At high levels, soccer players run between 10 - 15 km a game, needing a strong aerobic base. Someone once said that soccer players are serial sprinters. For quick speed bursts, the anaerobic system needs to be developed.
But that's not all for soccer fitness specifics. There are many elements of the game that require pure strength. One on one body contact requires upper body strength - hence a recent soccer fitness training trend towards the weight room. But not just for upper body. Jumping requirements necessitate leg strength to maximize vertical leaping ability.
Soccer fitness training must also address agility and flexibility. There are many stop-start runs, many change of directions, many unnatural twists of the body.
So how to train soccer specific fitness? With limited practice time at youth levels, how to build it in without sacrificing working with the ball and developing ball skills?
The obvious answer is to encourage kids to play as much soccer on their own. That will develop a lot of the fundamental skill and soccer fitness. As a coach, you can use the soccer fitness resources available and cleverly build them into your practice plans so that they do not take away from your skill and tactical development. That is exactly what we have done at soccerpracticebooks.com
In addition, you can take some of the soccer fitness drills and ask your players to do some of the work on their own. A lot of the basic plyometrics can even be done while watching TV or listening to music while outside. You can never do enough.
Ultimately, the motivation of each individual is what is going to make them excel. As coach, you need to balance the team's need for soccer fitness with skill and tactics development. Try our practice plans and you'll get a good idea!!
Find soccer fitness resources at:
soccer fitness training
No comments:
Post a Comment