| This purpose of this article is to get the correct | | | | injuries because one of them is a cross country |
| information out about soccer fitness training. Articles | | | | runner and plays soccer at the same time who did |
| that I write serve to keep soccer players, soccer | | | | not have the strength to stop and change direction |
| parents and soccer coaches current with fitness | | | | at speed and the other who had a coach who made |
| training and strength training information. Lately I | | | | her run 5km a day on concrete! |
| have come cross several different articles from | | | | When will this ever stop! Distance Running Takes |
| various sources that mention long distance or long | | | | Away From Soccer Speed and Power. Even at ages |
| duration running for as part of soccer fitness | | | | of eight, nine and ten young male and female soccer |
| conditioning. | | | | players respond better to any interval type training. |
| Long distance or long duration runs are OUTDATED | | | | Most young bodies do not have the physical and |
| for soccer fitness. Most of these articles are written | | | | mental capabilities to endure long distance runs. |
| by people who write about soccer as a hobby and | | | | It has been proven that soccer conditioning may be |
| have good intentions. Furthermore what really got | | | | done with four sets four minutes high intensity |
| me steamed was that one person claimed to be an | | | | dribbling around cones and then jogging for recovery |
| "online leading expert in sports". | | | | for three minutes. (K McMillan, J Helgerud, R |
| Yes this is a bit of a rant but if you are serious about | | | | Macdonald, J Hoff, British Journal of Sports Medicine |
| playing or coaching soccer with an interest in soccer | | | | 2005; 39:273-277). |
| fitness you must know what is current and long | | | | Furthermore including this type of training with small |
| distance running is not. | | | | sided games is very effective for soccer fitness |
| The key to any good soccer conditioning program | | | | training for a few reasons. First the body is moving |
| has two elements. The first element is interval | | | | the way it would in a soccer game. This includes |
| training and the second is sprints. Soccer is a game of | | | | stops, starts and change of direction. This movement |
| sprint -jog - walk. How many times have you ever | | | | conditions the muscle, nerve and energy systems |
| witnessed a soccer player run at the same pace for | | | | needed to be at a high level. Small sided games also |
| an entire game? | | | | allow for more touches on the ball. Long distance |
| Let me further emphasize to you that distance | | | | running does not offer this! |
| running is OUTDATED. I have two athletes that I | | | | Remember soccer is a game of energy bursts with |
| currently treat for preventable ligament sprains | | | | recovery. It is definitely not played at the same pace! |