Maximise your fitness for a successful return to soccer

With the return to soccer on the horizon, soccer players are striving to enhance their fitness levels to ensure they are fully prepared. While many have been practising skills on their own, it’s important not to overlook certain types of conditioning that are essential for peak performance and injury prevention. In this article, we’ll discuss the importance of high-speed running and other conditioning exercises to help you prepare for the demands of the game.

Conditioning for Performance and Injury Prevention

As the return to soccer draws near, soccer players must take into consideration the risks associated with playing the game. It’s important to ensure that the body is prepared to withstand the demands of high-intensity physical activity, which can lead to injury if not properly conditioned. This is where high-speed running comes in.

Incorporating high-speed running into your training regimen can effectively safeguard and strengthen your hamstrings, while also equipping your body to endure fatigue. This is crucial as fatigue can hamper your performance, lead to sluggish muscle activation, and ultimately have an adverse effect on your overall performance on the soccer field. By receiving proper training in high-speed running, you can enhance your speed and performance, while also minimizing the risk of injury.

The Importance of High-Speed Running for all Positions

It’s important to note that high-speed running isn’t just important for certain positions on the field, but for all soccer players. Whether you’re a defensive midfielder or a fullback, practising longer runs and high-speed efforts can help you prepare for the demands of the game, both offensively and defensively.

For instance, a high-level defensive midfielder can cover up to 500m of high-speed distance (over 19.7km/h for men, 18.0km/h for women) in a 90-minute game, including efforts of very high-speed running (over 25.2km/h for men, over 25km/h for women). This highlights the importance of high-speed running for all positions on the field.

Training Methods for High-Speed Running

In a team setting, small-sided games can be manipulated to meet the requirements of high-speed running. However, when training alone, sprints and intervals must be run to meet these requirements. These training methods may seem less attractive to some soccer players, but they are essential for conditioning the body to withstand the demands of the game.

Examples of high-speed running training methods include box-to-box runs with short rest periods and sprint efforts with large rest times. These methods help improve endurance, speed, and conditioning, while also reducing the risk of injury.

It’s important to ensure that your body is prepared to withstand the demands of the game. High-speed running and other conditioning exercises are essential for peak performance and injury prevention. It’s crucial to incorporate these exercises into your training routine, whether you’re a defensive midfielder or a full-back, to ensure that you’re fully prepared to perform at your best.