| Let it be known that a soccer conditioning program is | | | | This form of running at different speeds helps the |
| the very basis on which the success of any team | | | | players get strong and have more control over their |
| depends. Soccer exercises build strength, agility, and | | | | bodies. And they do not feel exhausted since a walk |
| endurance without which players cannot even think | | | | after a sprint evens things out. |
| of being in shape for a live match, forget about | | | | Just let the individual players make a decision as to |
| winning it. | | | | what they want to do and when. If they wish to do |
| Still, your team or you may face situations where | | | | sprints more than light jogging, there is no harm in it. |
| there is paucity of time to train ahead of a | | | | As the stamina of the kids increases, you can |
| tournament. This does not suggest you to cut back | | | | increase the duration of the soccer conditioning |
| on your conditioning exercises. You don't want your | | | | program slightly. |
| players to get injured before or during the game. | | | | Stretching: Encourage the players to do it whenever |
| If a soccer fitness training series is devised correctly, | | | | they can; after a training session and after the |
| even 3 days time would be sufficient to train the | | | | match. Concentrate on working out the whole body |
| players fully. All you need to do is be honest in | | | | specially the hamstrings, groins, quads, calves and |
| carrying out the plan based on some good | | | | lower back. Keep the stretching positions longer than |
| homework. There are one or two tips which work | | | | in the warm-up sessions. Usually, 20 to 30 seconds is |
| well with short but successful training plans. | | | | perfect. |
| Warming up: Guide the players to open with any of | | | | Make the players rest a day before the match. This |
| these; high knees, jumping, or heel flicks or a five | | | | will make the muscles build up strength as well as |
| minute jog. Take time to relax for a while in | | | | negate the possibility of injuries. Also, use this time to |
| between. This should be followed by some stretching | | | | discuss your plan with the team and encouraging |
| of muscles for about 5 minutes to tone them up. Be | | | | them. |
| sure to include all the major muscle groups in these | | | | Discuss some funny things or joke so that they feel |
| soccer workouts. | | | | lighter. |
| Running: Some coaches tend to make their players | | | | Trust me! Once these techniques are applied, your |
| do continuous running. Though it's absolutely ok, but | | | | players shall start playing dramatically well. To know |
| in my opinion the players should be made to practice | | | | more about soccer conditioning, subscribe to our |
| only soccer specific running. It means that for 20 to | | | | youth soccer coaching community which will leave |
| 30 minutes, they do a mix of running, jogging, | | | | you richer with resources on youth soccer. |
| walking, and sprinting in no set order. | | | | |