Playing soccer is an excellent way to get exercise. Not only is it a physically-demanding game, but playing soccer also requires clear and clever thinking. This means that in order to play at your best, you must be in great physical and mental shape. This article focuses on the physical benefits of playing soccer and […]
Fitness and Strength
How to Improve Stamina and Endurance for Soccer
How (and Why) to Improve Your Agility in Soccer
How Better Fitness Can Improve Your Finishing
I have connections to a adult men’s amateur team with players who are considerably skilled but have lost a step or two since they were in their 20s. Recently this team has been struck with a difficult affliction: an inability to finish. Forwards have received through balls and been 1 on 1 with the keeper […]
Speed vs. Acceleration in Soccer
In his ode to the beautiful game, the book Soccer in Sun and Shadow, Uruguayan writer Eduardo Galeano describes the movement of all-time great forward Alfredo Di Stefano: He would change flanks and change rhythm with the ball, from a lazy trot to an unstoppable cyclone; without the ball he’d evade his marker to gain […]
2 Soccer Fitness Tests for Your Training: 120s and Man U
Summer coming to an end is a surefire sign that it’s time to make sure you are properly fit to start your soccer season. But no matter what the time of year, achieving a high level of fitness is crucial so working on conditioning is important year-round. Becoming soccer fit takes hard work, sweat and […]
Agility Ladder Training for Soccer: the Best Exercises to Try
Should You Lift Weights During Your Soccer Season?
On Soccer Training Solutions and in our soccer training book we advocate strength training including a healthy dose of work on the legs, shoulders and core muscle groups. But when you’re undertaking weight training for soccer, should you work on it mid-season? Do the demands of regular practices and games mean that weight work will […]
What Are the Best Core Exercises for Soccer Players?
In the game of soccer, it’s important to have a strong core, not just strong abs. Some might think these terms mean roughly the same thing, but the core includes more muscles than just your abs. These include your obliques, lower back, and muscles around your pelvis like your hip flexor–all of which come into […]
Bodyweight vs Weight Lifting: Which Is Better for Soccer?
A question recently came up about speed and strength training. Specifically, the question was about bodyweight training vs. weight training. Which one is better for you as a player? In the context of soccer, both bodyweight training and weight training will help you build strength and speed. Each, however, has a distinct main benefit. What […]