Soccer Science
Soccer is a fast paced, explosive sport requiring many physical attributes for a player to be successful. A player needs to be quick within a 10 yard grid and with their decision making. A player needs to be fast for longer runs and in transition defense. Muscular strength helps a player to hold his or her position on the ball and muscular power propels the athlete upward to win head balls. Also, a player who possesses sound agility, balance and coordination will have better footwork, be more controlled with and without the ball, and have better body control to change direction. These are just a few of the physical attributes that can be drastically improved through proper soccer specific training. Benefits from soccer specific conditioning can and will be seen in players at any age and ability level.
Today's soccer players are bigger, faster and stronger than they have ever been. The benefits of strength training and conditioning is clearly evident in the professional ranks, at the collegiate and club levels, and even at the high school level. Traditional strength training and conditioning methods have certainly helped today's soccer players, but the real question to ask is "Have these training methods been optimal?".
Soccer players have been trained like bodybuilders and Olympic weight lifters from a strength training standpoint and like track and cross country runners from a conditioning standpoint. Does this provide for optimal carry over onto the soccer field? I would have to reply with a definitive NO.
In this section you will find valuable information concerning a wide variety of topics relating to making your players the best they can be through sound information.
Strength Training
Speed, Agility, and Quickness (SAQ) Training
Soccer Conditioning
Sports Nutrition
Sports Psychology
Sports Medicine

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