Soccer conditioning is something which has become a hot topic today with almost everyone you chat with. There is a huge sum of money that is invested in hiring professional trainers on board. The scheme behind hiring these trainers is to initiate latest training methods to the players. The purpose is actually to prepare the kids enabling them to take the competition at a higher level.
I have witnessed many soccer fitness sessions and got ample chances to see the manner in which they are carried out. The players are instructed to take a few rounds of the field.
After a while, the training session takes the form of a “drill” wherein half of the players are made to dribble along the cones and rest of them run in something called as “suicides”.
Generally, the trainers proceed in their training sessions in this particular manner.
Herein, the players are made run towards one mark, come back running to where they started, then run towards another mark, then back again, and like that. The thing that must not go unnoticed here is that half of the players are yet to get in contact with the soccer ball. Isn’t that ridiculous? Only half of the squad is taking part when the complete team should have been taken on.
After a few minutes, the two groups of players switch activities. Time and time again it is observed that soccer coaches tend to take a very lenient view of soccer exercises. It lacks any novelty. Let’s take an example; tell the players to take the rounds of field with the soccer balls. Almost all coaches ignore this feature.
In addition, while the goalkeeper is running, he should carry the ball, throw it in the air and also return it. It has been said million times over that in formative years, kids should be made to spend as much time with the ball as possible, even sleep within it. The idea behind it is that kids shall get one with the ball.
After that, with time, you should introduce soccer conditioning and fitness training.
There is a trick to perform soccer workouts. A part of these exercises can be light cardio. This can be done in quick succession; by using your dominant foot first and then both of them together. Stretch out your legs to the maximum, bend over with face pointing downwards. Balance the ball towards the back of your neck. If it seems easy, clap.
Then you can perform a turtle walk with the ball struck between your thighs. Rest flat on your back, put a ball below your back and move your feet so that you are rotating around in a circle.
There is yet another exercise to exercise your stomach muscles and back. Thrust the ball up in the air so that it meets your chest on its way back. Once you are comfortable with it, catch hold of the ball using either your hands or feet and then let the ball hit your chest two times.
Do yourself a favor and use these tips for effective soccer conditioning. Our youth soccer coaching community has an abundance of resources on youth soccer.
Andre Botelho is a recognized authority in youth soccer coaching and has already helped thousands of youth coaches to dramatically improve their coaching skills. Learn how to explode your players’ skills and make training fun by downloading your free ebook at: Soccer Drills.
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