| Soccer is a very physically demanding sport. In a | | | | 1. Being able to pound a sixty mile an hour soccer ball |
| game a player on average runs five constant miles. A | | | | at the goalie consistently takes strength and stamina. |
| soccer player also has tremendous amounts of stress | | | | Not only do soccer players need good leg strength, |
| on their hips, abdomens, thighs, calves, shins, ankles, | | | | but even greater strength stamina. Shoot soccer balls |
| toes, chests, and everywhere a soccer ball touches. | | | | daily, run with ankle weights, shoot with ankle |
| In order to be ready for all of this physical activity a | | | | weights, lunges, and do anything that helps with leg |
| player must condition in the off season. | | | | strength. |
| 1. Run. | | | | 2. Strong ball kicking abilities do not only come from |
| 2. A soccer player must run daily for long distances in | | | | the legs. A player's hips, back, and abdomens, are |
| the off season to keep in shape. Not only will the | | | | just as important. When kicking a ball almost all of a |
| player have great stamina but the player will have | | | | player's momentum and strength comes from |
| that crucial first step in over time. | | | | twisting the hips. If a player has weak abdomens |
| 3. Not only is a player responsible for long distance | | | | than they probably have weak hips. |
| running but also short distance running. A player's fast | | | | Extra Step. |
| twitch muscles are a valuable must have in a soccer | | | | 1. Like stated before a player must have supreme |
| game. If a player had slow fast twitch muscles they | | | | stamina to have the edge. But what most athletes |
| would be beaten every time. Grab a jump rope, | | | | do not realize is the importance of an extra half step |
| sprint with a speed chute, or do daily plyometric | | | | in over time. This step may seem useless, but when |
| workouts to keep the edge. | | | | a player has an edge-greatness follows. |
| Strength. | | | | |