| Soccer players require both strength and endurance. | | | | - Tuck your head down and get into position for |
| The proper soccer exercises will give you stamina to | | | | exploding after the ball or your opponent. This will |
| out-perform your opposition in a 90-minute soccer | | | | give you more control over your body than if your |
| game. It is a game of constant movement. But you | | | | head is flying around up there somewhere. Just keep |
| need more than just endurance. | | | | your eyes open. |
| To become a talented soccer player there are 4 | | | | - Move your arms forward and backward parallel to |
| types of soccer exercises that you should perform | | | | your body. Not across the body. This increases your |
| regularly: | | | | momentum, and gets everything moving in the same |
| - Endurance training - get the wind you need to last | | | | direction. |
| 90 minutes. You know that you hate being taken off | | | | - Lead with your toes. Starting off on your heels will |
| the field before. | | | | not give you the balance or acceleration that you |
| - Sprint training - to allow you to get to the ball | | | | need. |
| faster than your opponents. | | | | - Get your feet hitting the ground as many times and |
| - Strength training for soccer - so when you must | | | | as fast as you can. The more you do this, the faster |
| battle an opponent for the ball, you can get position, | | | | you will become. |
| and win the ball in the air, or on the ground. | | | | Strength Training |
| - Flexibility training - to stretch and strengthen your | | | | Weight training for soccer is an excellent way to |
| muscles to prevent injury and encourage muscle | | | | improve your strength to win challenges for the ball. |
| growth. | | | | In the air, and on the ground. It's about improving |
| Endurance Training | | | | your overall strength, not becoming muscle-bound. I |
| As a soccer player we hate to hear | | | | suggest you visit my weight training for soccer page |
| "SUBSTITUTION". So to keep this from happening, | | | | for more information. |
| try these endurance-training tips: | | | | Flexibility Training |
| - Always warm up before any endurance training run. | | | | To improve the flexibility of your muscles it is |
| - 50% training will give you 50% during a game. Keep | | | | important to understand the following: |
| your long distance pace as high as possible. 2 miles in | | | | - Warm up for 5 - 10 minutes before stretching. Light |
| 12 minutes is a good target. | | | | jogging will work. |
| - Work hard enough to get out of your comfort | | | | - Hold each stretch for 15 - 20 seconds. |
| zone. And continue to expand your comfort zone as | | | | - 2 - 3 stretches per body part. |
| you improve. | | | | - Do not bounce. Hold the stretch in place. |
| - Give your body time to recover. If you train hard | | | | - Start at the bottom and work your way up. Ankles, |
| every day there will be no juice left in your tank, and | | | | calves, hamstrings, quads, waist and hips, arms, |
| your body can only take so much. | | | | chest, shoulders, neck and head. |
| Sprint (speed) Training | | | | - Don't hold a painful stretch. You should feel a |
| There are times when we just need to work on our | | | | tightness in the muscle, but not pain. |
| speed. Sure we all want to get as much time on the | | | | - Breathe! Do not hold your breath. If you combine |
| ball as we can, but we cannot always have the ball. | | | | those facts with these great stretching exercises |
| Work without the ball! Although it is a good idea to | | | | you will be a step ahead of your opponents. |
| practice speed drills with the ball, doing both types of | | | | Always allow yourself RECOVERY TIME. Recovering |
| soccer exercises will be of greater benefit in the long | | | | from any of the soccer exercises that you perform |
| term. | | | | will allow to continue to improve. This will improve |
| Here are a few exercises to help improve your | | | | your overall conditioning for the long-term. |
| speed: | | | | |