Summary: Stamina and endurance aren’t the only things you need to focus on in the game of soccer. Here are some tips on how you can improve your conditioning.
One area that all soccer coaches need to focus on is their soccer training and conditioning sessions. For years now, coaches often use running warm-up laps to help increase their players’ endurance and stamina. However, solely relying on these types of exercises won’t immediately warp your kids into legitimate soccer players.
Don’t Turn Your Team into a Cross Country Club
Most soccer practices you see, you’ll find that each team has their separate warmup regimen. Nearly all of them involve the entire team running around the field for a specific amount of time. While soccer does require an immense amount of stamina and endurance to get through games, it’s a bit questionable to see a bunch of youth soccer uniforms looping around tracks like they’re competing for a long distance trophy.
Be Proactive With Your Stamina Training
One of the biggest challenges that you face as the head of a soccer team is time. And, with the lack of time that you get with your youth team, you’ll likely want to treasure each and every minute so you can help mold your kids into well-trained soccer players. But, the reality of it is that you just don’t have enough time to work with. Now, to counter this, use your time wisely. Be proactive with your stamina training by gearing these exercises towards control, touches, and improving one’s soccer skills. While it’s nice to see your kids don the bright soccer apparel in front of their parents, it’s even more worthwhile to see them execute your strategies to near perfection.
If you have your kids run laps, why not have them work with other to pair up and dribble while running. Ten minutes of pure running won’t help them with their coordination and passing skills. However, combining the two will benefit them as they work on dribbling, passing, and receiving. This can be set up as soon as the players enter the field. Let this be the first training session that comes after their stretching routine. This way, you eliminate the cross-country feel and incorporate actual soccer skills that will help them be more confident with the ball. And, when it comes to game day, you know what else you can add to your warm up? You guessed it, the exact same drills. Show the other team that you came prepared. Chances are, the opposing team will be pretty impressed at the amount of control that your team has. And, all it takes is discipline and organization. It should be no different than before – just a separate regimen.
