| The purpose of this article is to give you five ways | | | | touch it as well. Then shuffle ten metres to the right |
| to evaluate your teams' fitness levels. All these test | | | | and touch the cone in the middle. Finally sprint |
| may be done either on an outdoor or indoor soccer | | | | backwards for five metres. |
| field. These tests let you know their fitness levels | | | | 5a) Beep Test: The beep test is an overall good |
| and which area of fitness they need to focus in the | | | | fitness test for your player. |
| preseason. As a coach you know how important | | | | To perform this test you will need either the CD or |
| soccer fitness is in developing players and taking | | | | Tape for the timed intervals of the test and cones |
| them to the next level. | | | | outlining a twenty meter distance |
| Today soccer is more of a speed and power game | | | | How it Works: Players start on a beep and run/jog |
| and by doing these tests you will discover your | | | | twenty meters and wait until the next beep. The |
| soccer players' strengths and weaknesses. No longer | | | | time between beeps is less as the test progresses. |
| are you sending your players out for a thirty to forty | | | | Players continue until they no longer reach the |
| minute "conditioning" run /jog. | | | | twenty meter mark before the beep. |
| Regardless if you coach high school, rep or provincial | | | | "Apparently" David Beckham in his prime could |
| state soccer these are basic tests you may apply to | | | | complete the entire beep test for all 23 levels. Best |
| your players. | | | | conditioned athletes on average reach above the |
| Here are the five tests for your soccer players: | | | | 14th level and below the 16th level. I have personally |
| 1) Standing Long Jump: This simple test is a good | | | | observed a 19 old year old male soccer player reach |
| indicator of power. All you need to do is mark a line | | | | level 14. |
| on a field or go to the sideline of a soccer field and | | | | 5b) Timed 300 Metre Shuttle: This a good test to |
| use the marking their. Your players simply try to | | | | include or use in place of the beep test. |
| jump as far as they can. Give them each 2-3 | | | | Mark a distance of either 25 0r 50 meters. If the |
| attempts | | | | distance is 25 metres the players need to shuttle |
| 2) 10 Metre Sprint: This test evaluates your soccer | | | | back and forth six times or three times if the |
| players' acceleration and quickness. | | | | distance is 50 metres. This is a very demanding test. |
| 3) 40 Metre Sprint: This test gives you an idea of | | | | I suggest that you leave this test to the very end |
| your players speed potential. Most soccer players | | | | and only test it once. |
| reach full speed between 40 -60 metres. | | | | Generally when you do any testing you do your |
| 4) T - Agility Run: This test gives an idea how well | | | | power and speed tests before conditioning tests. For |
| your soccer players are can stop and change | | | | example on one day you could do the standing long |
| direction. | | | | jump, 10M, 40 and beep test and two days later do |
| You need four cones for this drill. Put one cone down | | | | the T-agility test followed by the 300meter shuttle |
| then measure 5 metres from that cone. Put the next | | | | run. |
| cone down at the 10 meter mark. Now place a cone | | | | In coaching soccer I believe it is important to know |
| on each side of the second cone 5 metres apart. | | | | what your players fitness levels are to help you with |
| The Drill: Sprint forwards five metres. Once you | | | | playing time, off season conditioning and in season |
| reach that cone put one cone hand on it then shuffle | | | | training. |
| five yards to the right and touch that cone. Then | | | | Good luck with your soccer team. |
| side shuffle left 10 metres to the furthest cone and | | | | |