Tag Archives for " speed "

Reaction Speed to Goals

By Anthony Hazelwood The following activity triggers players to perform a speed reaction activity. It includes starting reactions and a progressive linear sprinting action to the ball. The metabolic training adaptations are meant for speed production. The time of action for each repetition should be around 5 to 7 seconds’ max, making it alactic, and

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4v4+Neutral Player For Rhythm of Play and Speed

By Anthony Hazelwood The following activity has two teams of four players playing a 4 vs. 4 possession game with an additional neutral player. The restriction in this activity is given to the amount of touches a player can take within a sequence. Initially, the first arrangement will be a 2-2-1 repeat. This means the

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1 v 1 to Goal – Reaction and Speed Production

By Anthony Hazelwood The following activity triggers players to attack or defend their opponent while going to goal. This activity is a line type of exercise with the soccer specific fitness target being player athletic development with the metabolic training adaptation being speed production. The time of action should be around 4 to 8 seconds’

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2 v 2 to Improve Explosive Power

By Alex Trukan This practice is designed to develop Explosive Power which is responsible for sharp sprints to the ball, running duels or 2v2 transition scenarios. This kind of training leads to improved body’s ability to use fuel (ATP) and therefore, produce more powerful and explosive actions. The following practice achieves this in a 2v2

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Multiple Finishing with Starting Speed

By Alex Trukan The following practice helps players to improve their starting speed. The difference between winning and losing is often decided by marginal gains. One of the key fitness components that might significantly influence outcomes in a football game is speed. Due to the nature of the game, speed in football is most often

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‘Break-out’ Game

By Alex Trukan The following practice is aimed at improving body’s ability to recover quicker between high intensity efforts (i.e. sprint, tackle etc.). This will help players to maintain quantity of actions without feeling increasingly tired (aerobic power) towards the end of the game. This game also focuses on maintaining possession and choosing the right

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Reaction Game with Dribbling

By Alex Trukan

This practice is focusing on developing reaction time and quick bursts of acceleration over short distances. Its’ design ensures the practice is fun and challenging at the same time what makes it suitable for almost all age groups. Relating to the match context, the exercise will help the players to make quicker decisions, react and accelerate to win possession or make a tackle.

Set up and Directions

Set up four cones, two on one side, and two opposite them. Organise two players, both of them between two cones, opposite

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1v1 Race Circuit with Finishing

By Alex Trukan

The presented exercise is designed to develop repetitive short sprinting power in a running with the ball scenario with a finishing element. From the physical perspective, it helps the players to be quicker and more explosive when trying to win a race to the ball or be faster than the defender in and around the box. That is linked to technical element of running with the ball and shooting on goal. The organisation of the practice ensures that work to rest ratio is easier to manage as well as players get enough repetitions without long waiting periods.

Set up and Directions

Cone off two channels of approximately 20 yards in length and 4 in width. Place one goal on the opposite ends of the channels. Divide the players into pairs and set half of the pairs at the beginning of one channel (opposite the goal) and the other half at the start of the second channel. Two coaches/players are needed to play the

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Give-and-Goes and Sprinting

By Alex Trukan

The following practice is aimed at developing an ability to sustain the amount of sprints and high intensity actions throughout the whole game. This physical component is linked into technical content of passing, one-two’s and receiving. The practice can be adapted to suit different numbers as well as physical focus. More players involved, as well as smaller area will mean longer resting periods. Also different passing combinations can be used to increase variety.

Set-Up and Directions

Organise a square of approximately 5x5 yards. Set four players outside the square, one on each side, and one player in the middle of the square, with the ball. Area size and

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Reverse 1 v 1's

By Alex Trukan

This practice is designed to improve the quality of high intensity actions, developing speed and power to accelerate. It is relevant for all the positions, in particular, defenders (e.g. accelerating towards the ball played in behind) or strikers (e.g. getting away from defender). It has also a technical element of turning as well as shooting. For the players it is highly engaging and fun game that develops them physically, psychologically as well as technically.

Set up and Directions

Position two goals with the back to each other, 5 yards apart. Organise goalkeepers into goals. Divide the team into two groups, and set them next to the

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Speed and Combination Play

By Chris Kouns USSF A License (USSF Coaching Education Instructor) – NSCAA Premier Diploma (NSCAA Coaching Education Associate Staff Coach) – Head Coach Georgia Gwinnett College Women's Soccer These Speed of Play & Combination activities are designed to allow players to feel pressure (both with and without defenders) while focusing on technical repetition necessary to increase

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Increasing Speed of Play

By Chris Kouns USSF A License (USSF Coaching Education Instructor) – NSCAA Premier Diploma (NSCAA Coaching Education Associate Staff Coach) – Head Coach Georgia Gwinnett College Women's Soccer These Speed of Play activities are designed to allow players to feel pressure (both with and without defenders) while focusing on technical repetition necessary to increase Speed of

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Sprinting and Sliding Game

By Alex Trukan

Sprinting and sliding game is designed to improve acceleration and speed over short distances. That will help players to win more running and 1v1 duels as well as forward runs with and without the ball. In the presented exercise, that is connected with sliding and intercepting skills to make the physical side more context specific and engaging.

Set-Up and Directions

Organise two gates 3 yards wide and one cone in between as shown on the diagram below. Set the players in a line behind the cone with one ball each. The coach should be positioned opposite the

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Passing Sequence with Repeated Sprints

By Alex Trukan

The presented exercise is aimed at developing repetitive sprints ability with a passing content. From the conditioning perspective, the practice is focused on improving players’ ability to keep the amount of sprints high throughout the game, without a decrease in the quality. Therefore, it is especially relevant for improving players in 1v1’s and running duels. That is integrated in the passing practice ensuring players are motivated and improving in the technical corner.

Set Up and Directions

Organise a square of approximately 20x20 yards. Place two poles, 10 yards from each side of the square as shown on the diagram below. Divide players into groups of five and give each player a number from one to five. Every group of

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