| When watching a soccer game, you'll notice that the | | | | slowing down the player allowing them to stop more |
| ball changes direction constantly. This change of | | | | quickly. |
| direction could be accidental...deflections or a miss hit | | | | - As they are taking these smaller steps, they also |
| or on purpose like a wall pass or a diagonal pass. It | | | | need to start to lower their hips and bend their |
| could also be accomplished by an attacking player | | | | knees dropping their center of gravity. This part is |
| dribbling and then changing direction with the ball. | | | | critical for all players but especially for our female |
| In any event, in order to continue to get better as a | | | | soccer players as female players tend to stay too |
| soccer player and to be able to stay up with the | | | | upright when stopping putting an enormous strain on |
| play, soccer players must learn a very important skill. | | | | the knee. Female soccer players have a higher |
| That skill is soccer agility. You might be asking | | | | incidence of knee injuries then male players because |
| yourself how does a player learn agility? Soccer agility | | | | of this. |
| or agility by itself is really the ability of a player to | | | | - At the point where they need to stop, they should |
| change direction safely, efficiently and explosively. | | | | have their feet about shoulder width apart. Having |
| The most dangerous athlete on the field is the | | | | their feet about shoulder width apart allows for |
| athlete who can stop the fastest and then explode in | | | | better balance and now allows a soccer player to go |
| a new direction. The most important concept to learn | | | | in a new direction quickly and explosively. |
| from that last sentence is that agility is a skill that | | | | With these smaller steps, bent knees and hips down, |
| can be learned. Once learned, a player now becomes | | | | the athlete has now effectively slowed themselves |
| very dangerous on the soccer field. | | | | down and can now prepare for their next step in a |
| Even if you do not have the ball, you need to be | | | | powerful new direction. |
| able to change direction effectively and quickly. Many | | | | Following these quick pointers will help a player |
| defenders need to be extremely agile as they need | | | | become more athletic and more dangerous on the |
| to be able to react quickly and explosively to what | | | | field. It will also help them lessen the chance of |
| an attacking player is trying to accomplish with the | | | | suffering a serious knee injury. |
| ball against them. | | | | Because the game of soccer is played with the ball |
| Here are three quick pointers to help a soccer player | | | | going in many different directions, the better a |
| with their soccer agility: | | | | soccer player can change direction, the better they |
| - When stopping quickly, a player must first take a | | | | will be on the field and the more dangerous they can |
| few smaller steps as they approach the spot where | | | | become as as a soccer player. |
| they need to stop at. These smaller steps start | | | | Have a great day! |