Fitness Training "Training for endurance, speed and strength"

Physical training is better known as fitness training. Physical training is the fitness work it takes to get the body in shape to play the game of soccer. This will vary from team to team as each team will enter the season with a different level of fitness. It will also differ based upon each team's goal's for the season. Teams that aspire to play at the highest. most competitive level will need a greater level of fitness than teams that are just playing recreationally. The one constant for all teams, however, is that they will need to do some sort of fitness training if the players are to make it through the game.

Whenever possible phyical training should be economical; that is physical training should encompass more than just the activity of running. Any time physical training can be done with a ball and incorportated into a game it is economical; players are getting fit and geting better at a technical or tactical aspect of the game.

At younger ages all fitness training should be done on a ball. At the ages of eleven and twelve some fitness training without the ball can be introduced but it should still be fun. Sprints and distance running without the ball should begin to be introduced around the age of thirteen. This type of training will be demanding and difficult, however it will be necessary to be successful during the game. As players progress past the age of thirteen different types of fitness training will need to be introduced. Some longer distance running will be needed, aerobic training will become more important and speed and strength training will be helpful. These ideas below will simply offer some ideas for training the fitness component of soccer.

Training with oxygen.

• Games to improve stamina
• Runs to increase stamina

Training without oxygen.

• Short sprints
• Plyometrics
• Speed training

Training to increase coordination and footskills.

• Lateral agility training
• Footwork coordination