In next week's podcast on CoachingSoccerWeekly.com I discuss the preseason training routine that I perscribe for my players. One way to ensure that they actually DO the preparation is to test them at the start of the season. I also test them at the end of the season.
I use the testing put together by AthleteFIT.com. There are six tests; one fitness test, three skills tests and two speed tests.
I've found these to be a great indicator of how ready my players are to train. The test we do at the end of the season also tell me if what we have done has improved the players technically and physically. There is only so much we can do to improve speed, you either have it or you don't but one of the speed tests also involves changing direction and that is an ability that can be improved through training.
The AthleteFIT site also allows you to enter your scores on the six tests and see how they compare to them to the other 30,000 players that have already been tested. This lets you see how you compare to other players in your age group and the best scores over all.
[wpsharely id="6889"][/wpsharely]Click here for this week's podcast episode to find out how I use this tool for my preseason conditioning.
Have a great day!
Tom
