Thursday, August 22, 2013

Reason Players Need College Soccer Training

Reason Players Need College Soccer Training


by Andrea Davidson


The difference between being ready for the opening game of the college soccer season and being unfit is like the difference between night and day. One of the most important aspects of any college soccer training program is preseason. If a trainer prepares thoroughly for the opening game then that could be the difference between being able to last 90 minutes, and wilting before the end of the game.

By planning the whole program in advance the trainer can get to work as soon as players arrive. Ideally, they'll have started the program around five or weeks before the season begins. This gives plenty of time to build up fitness and get into shape for the upcoming games. At the start things will be quite slow, with light warming up and light running, so as not to exert the players too much at the start. Stretching is key too as it makes the muscles supple as less prone to injury.

As soccer players use their legs most of the time these muscle groups need to be thoroughly worked out by doing moving and static exercises. The moving exercises usually involve standing on the spot and moving the legs and arms in circular patterns. This stretches the legs and arms, loosening the muscles. Static exercise is usually less intense and involves a great deal of stretching.

Running forms an important part of the training regime because in soccer there is a lot of running around. Aerobic conditioning is vital and should be gradually increased as the season nears. Cross country running and sprinting should be undertaken as these will get you fit quickly. Later you should also start dribbling with the ball, practicing control and movement.

As the season draws near, most trainers will focus on the getting players ready for actual games. This means more working with the ball and more sprinting, as this is a key component of soccer. By this time players are usually separated into teams, with one team working on their fitness by closing down the other team with the ball. The opposing team, in the meantime are actually working on their close quarter ball control, trying to pass around their opponents.

It does not matter if you're a defender or a midfielder, every player should practice shooting. Normally this takes place when the session is nearly over, plus it gives goalkeepers the opportunity to practice stopping shots. After this comes a gentle warm down. This is a time to take things easy, so as not to strain the muscles the players have worked.

The idea is to make sure that the early part of preseason involves light work. Taking things easy is important because some players will return to training unfit, and they'll need more time to build up their fitness. To make sure that boredom does not set in, it's a good idea to incorporate some fun into practice. If not, players will find it demotivating and might not try hard.

Preseason college soccer training is about keeping players motivated enough to be fit for the start of the season. Working slowly at first, so that players build up fitness gradually, makes the most sense. At all times the accent should be on conditioning and in improving their basic touch and all-round play. It should be remembered that players cannot really get match fit until they have played a few preseason games and a few competitive matches also.




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