It’s not surprising to know that it’s soccer conditioning which serves as a platform for the success of any team. The result of following soccer exercises is strength, agility, and endurance which permit them to be called fit for the game, let alone winning it.
Still, your team or you may face situations where there is paucity of time to train ahead of a tournament. This does not suggest you to cut back on your conditioning exercises. You don’t wish to see your players getting hurt prior to the match or at some point in the game.
If a soccer fitness training series is devised correctly, even 3 days time would be sufficient to train the players fully. It only needs some good quality planning, and sincerity in its execution. These are some guidelines that lead to short but useful conditioning plans.
Warming up: Instruct the players to start with any of the following; a five minute jog, high knees, jumping, or heel flicks. Take enough rest for a minute or so in between. Then do a few stretching exercises for about 5 minutes to tone up the muscles. Be sure to include all the major muscle groups in these soccer workouts.
Running: Some coaches tend to make their players do continuous running. Though it’s absolutely ok, but in my opinion the players should be made to practice only soccer specific running. It means that for about 30 minutes, they do a combination of running, jogging, walking, and sprinting in no set order.
Running in this manner enables the players to get strong and control their bodies better. And they do not feel tired since a walk after a sprint keeps the heart rate normal.
Leave it to the individual players to decide what they want to do and when. If they wish to do sprints more than light jogging, there is no harm in it. As the stamina of the kids increases, you can increase the duration of the soccer conditioning program slightly.
Stretching: Impress upon the kids to do stretching after the match as well as a training session. Concentrate on including the whole body but emphasize on hamstrings, groins, quads, calves and lower back. Ensure that the stretching positions are of longer durations than the warm-up sessions. Normally, 20 to 30 seconds is fine.
Make the players rest a day before the match. This will make the muscles build up strength as well as negate the possibility of injuries. Also, use this time to discuss your plan with the team and encouraging them.
Discuss some funny things or joke so that they feel lighter.
Understand me! Once these techniques are applied, your players shall start playing dramatically well. To know more about soccer conditioning, subscribe to our youth soccer coaching community which will leave you richer with resources on youth soccer.
Andre Botelho is the author of “The Expert Youth Soccer Coaching Guide” and he’s a recognized expert in the subject of youth soccer coaching. Learn how to explode your players’ skills and make coaching sessions fun in less than 29 days! Download your free pdf guide at: Soccer Drills For Kids.
Tags: conditioning for soccer, Soccer conditioning, soccer exercises, soccer fitness, soccer fitness training, soccer workouts