michiana echo soccer club

Physical Aspects

Physical fitness for the soccer player must condition the individual to play better soccer. Too many times fitness takes the form of running that has nothing to do with the modern demands of the game. Fitness must be designed to help a player's self assertion when controlling the ball against tackling opponents throughout the duration of the game. All physical elements must be in balance in order to become a complete player. Fitness and ball control must grow together!

Endurance
• The ability of a player to exhibit a high work rate throughout the entire game both in attack and defense with no sign of fatigue and loss of ball control. That player must constantly be moving into open spaces demanding the ball or pulling and committing opposing players to create openings. Even though this is also a tactical commitment, it will only be successful if you have the endurance capabilities to run for the entire match. Coaches will be examining your physical exertion as you are being exposed to tactical problems you are trying to solve in the game.

Speed
• The ability to accelerate quickly and maintain that acceleration over the various lengths that a player's position demands.
• Elements of speed include:
• Pure straight ahead running speed.
• Lateral speed (changing direction).
• Change of speed (acceleration).
• Deceleration (ability to stop).
• Elements of Speed must be practiced with the ball! Your ability to use your speed in conjunction with the ball will give you an advantage within game.

Agility
• Agility is the ability to change directions quickly while maintaining balance. Twisting, turning while dribbling, readjusting your body to control an awkwardly bouncing ball, and getting up quickly after a tackle are a few examples. Agility can be improved by using agility drills, plyometric drills, and flexibility exercises such as stretching, ball gymnastics, and skill training with the ball. Agility training should be combined with the development of your technical ability and should be part of you conditioning program.

Strength
• The ability to effectively use your body to win physical confrontations. Strength is exhibited during tackling (1 vs. 1), winning the aerial duel (heading), and changing directions effectively (explosion). It is also important to learn how to effectively use that strength to your advantage as is demonstrated in using your arms to hold a player off while running at top speed with the ball or in shooting for power.

Work Rate
• The ability to understand their own energy management. Knowledge of when to conserve energy and when and how to expend it.
• Ability to constantly challenge one's self and their own, self imposed limits.
• Is a player willing to spend energy that they cannot readily replace?