| Neil Travers
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| | The answer to this question lies in the
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| You only have to watch a senior
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| | ability, confidence and experience of the
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| professional game of football to
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| | player.
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| recognise the importance that speed has
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| | #4 Speed of feet
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| in the game. But there is more to speed
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| | Here we are talking about the basic
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| than meets the eye.
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| | running / sprinting motor skills.
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| | Initial explosion and acceleration are
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| Here are 5 key soccer related speed
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| | vital to covering the ground quickly.
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| abilities that you should develop in your
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| | Speed of feet is without the ball, and
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| players.
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| | since it is without the ball it is rarely
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| #1 - Speed of thought
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| | in a straight line.
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| Soccer players have a great deal to
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| | Therefore, as a players progress is often
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| concentrate on. There senses are
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| | inhibited by other players they must
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| constantly being blitzed with
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| | adjust and change direction in relation
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| information, which they need to quickly
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| | to their team mates actions and those of
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| decipher. Here are some examples:
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| | the opponents.
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| - Where opponents are positioned
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| | Explosive speed is generated from the leg
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| - Actions of their team mates
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| | muscles stretching and contracting to
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| - What's infront of them and their
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| | achieve maximum power, but good running
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| peripheral vision
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| | technique, driving through the arms and
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| - The conditions of the pitch and the
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| | co-ordination are also vital.
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| weather
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| | #5 Skill speed
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| - The noise from team mates, crowd,
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| | Watching a player run at pace and carry
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| coaches and opponents
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| | the ball is a truly awesome sight.
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| - Their tactical position and the
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| | Sprinting full out while keeping
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| strategy of the team
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| | possession and holding off any challenges
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| #2 - Speed of anticipation
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| | from opponents to dribble and create an
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| Some players have a great reading of the
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| | opportunity to shoot at goal is a
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| game. I have a friend who although he is
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| | tremendous ability.
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| now in his late 40's early 50's still
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| | This key skill though is still built on
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| plays regularly and competes well with
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| | the last point which is speed of feet.
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| players half his age!
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| | However, while a player may be very quick
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| How does he do this... because he's
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| | is only advantageous if their ball
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| played soccer all his life at
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| | manipulation and technical skills are as
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| professional and international level he
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| | up to speed as their pace (pardon the
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| has built a huge database in his brain of
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| | pun).
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| playing situations, player
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| | So, what can you do to help coach the 5
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| characteristics, tactical situations etc.
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| | key speed principles?
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| and he is able to draw on this which
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| | #1 Speed of thought - enable players to
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| gives him superb speed of anticipation.
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| | make their own decisions, that means give
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| Sure for explosiveness and reaction times
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| | them lots of opportunites to make
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| the younger players would win every time,
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| | choices. Condition games so that it
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| but as the old saying goes..."the first
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| | forces them to think.
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| couple of yards are in the head!".
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| | Play soccer games with them, don't just
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| So here it is important that players
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| | do drill work. By playing games they will
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| develop a knack of interpreting the
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| | also gain experience which help them
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| actions of the opponents and what that
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| | build their database from which to draw
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| means to the games development.
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| | on.
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| #3 - Speed of reaction
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| | Keep them motivated, players will not
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| As mentioned in the last bullet, speed of
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| | think unless they are motivated and
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| reaction is vital.
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| | stimulated to do so. Finally, let them be
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| Anticipation is one thing, being able to
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| | free of any fear and stress of making
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| react quickly is another.
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| | wrong decisions.
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| Consider the role of the goal keeper,
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| | #2 Speed of anticipation - play more
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| their reaction time to a sudden shot,
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| | soccer, coach them through the game.
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| deflection, switch in angle of attack,
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| | Ask plenty of questions on how they are
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| flight of the ball must be very acute.
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| | reading the game development.
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| But how does a goal keeper react and what
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| | Offer your insights into positions they
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| to? In this instance, the goal keeper
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| | have taken up in relation to opponents
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| will react to a number of external
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| | advances, both strengths and weaknesses.
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| stimuli, here's a list:
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| | #3 Speed of reaction - use reaction
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| - The visual element of the opponent with
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| | balls, have goal keeper starting
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| the ball, are they carrying it, have they
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| | positions with their back to play and
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| got backlift as if ready to strike the
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| | react to shots, play rebounds off walls.
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| ball, is the opponent in space and is
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| | Try not to use your whistle or command as
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| their a clear line of sight on goal
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| | the key for the reaction as this wouldn't
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| - The auditory element, do they hear the
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| | happen in a real game so don't practice
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| strike of the ball, is it fizzing, does
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| | this way.
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| it take a deflection of a player (thud),
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| | #4 Speed of feet - always, always warm
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| a shout from a team mate, maybe a close
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| | the muscles up before doing any speed
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| opponent barracking the goalie " he's
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| | work!
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| going to shoot!"
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| | Do some sprints, keep it high intensity
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| All of these stimuli will have an effect
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| | with short sharp bursts. Develop good
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| on the player.
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| | running technique with the use of speed
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| Once stimulated the player should choose
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| | ladders and hurdles.
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| the best option available to them to
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| | Try using some different starting
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| react to that situation.
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| | positions to like standing, from a jump
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| Again we will use the goalie;
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| | and land, on their back, on their
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| If a shot is fizzing towards them low and
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| | stomach, incorporate turns, feints and
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| hard, the pitch is wet and quick, and
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| | directional changes.
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| there are a number of players the ball
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| | #5 Skill speed - make your training as
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| has to go through before hitting the
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| | game related as possible, focusing on
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| target, do they get down low anticipating
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| | speed with the ball, movement, game
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| a clear strike on goal, have quick feet
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| | related distances and challenge.
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| and get their body in line with the
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| | Hopefully this has given you some good
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| expected flight path, do they dive
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| | food for thought, enjoy your training!
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| towards the ball, kneel or hack the ball?
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