soccer

Relationship Between Running Performance and Recovery-Stress State in Collegiate Soccer Players.

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Phenomenal research coming out about collegiate soccer in the new JSCR!. Breaking down the season into 4 equal parts, note the significant changes in running performance from Q1 to Q4. The decrease is shocking in Q4, especially as the team tries “peak”.

The literature does a great job of pointing out the importance of measuring recovery. What else can be taken from these significant results? The absolute NECESSITY of pure speed development in the offseason with technical versus application drills on a specified work:rest ratio for target energy system development (ESD).

Remember In the level 1 workshop, we broke down needs analysis for elite soccer for ESD. With a plan for periodization for optimal targets at various points in the year.

Not necessarily for quantified ESD – but DEFINITELY for various intensities of technical speed drills on a work:rest ratio to target within an energy system. These drills will RAISE the threshold (hence – running Performace) of this “stress” to combat these decreases!

Why is this important?? It’s becoming a lost art in soccer. Specificity is important. Aerobic work is important. However, as this research shows – running performance is crucial. Meaning threshold for maximal Efficiency is way more important. And don’t neglect Anaerobic lactic power!

Use the building blocks to in ALP to have the ability to actually maximize the “specificity”. Use moving claw series, resisted explosive strides, fast moving quick cuts for distance, RESISTED pulley sprints, etc. Put these types of high intense drills on a work:rest ratio to target ALP. And continue this work in season! Maybe bring the intensity down (like a good moving camps series complex w sled marching and A-skip series), but specified ESD zones can still be targeted. And they can be targeted WITHOUT the standards of just scrimmage and the old-school aerobic based Fartlek runs.

Periodization of the ESD zones is vital – and for soccer, the intensity of the drills for increasing threshold in a zone could be the key.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE RESEARCH!

Programs That Are Designed to Strengthen Any Athlete With Easy to Transport Materials and Scientifically Based Progressions

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Sometimes coaches need to do strength training on a turf or grass field since weight room access may be limited. In this type of scenario, we have programs that are designed to strengthen any athlete with easy to transport materials and scientifically based progressions. In this case, we have a program that soccer youth athletes can utilize on a soccer field to increase strength.

Equipment needed: Sorinex Bands, a few light dumbbells and a light kettle bell.

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For the first 1 to 2 weeks, the athlete will be in a general preparatory phase, which is designed to align the joints and start a base foundation of strength and motor pattern development. In the provided image you’ll see and example of an upper body day. The tempos are long and the reps/holds are medium to high.

 

The next image illustrates an advanced phase called conjugate. You’ll notice the tempos have shortened, which means the resistance is heavy and the movement of the exercises are faster. There are phases that come before this and after GPP which progresses to the later phases such as conjugate.Screen Shot 2016-09-15 at 11.58.14 AM