The Basic Soccer Conditioning Program
Not every player has the time (or the facilities) to follow a complete soccer conditioning program...
But that doesn't mean you can't significantly improve your soccer-specific fitness.
This 3-days a week (which includes a match) soccer training plan will improve your endurance, strength and agility for the game. Not only that...
It doesn't require any expensive equipment... other than a pair of light dubbells.
Here's a 7-day view - I've numbered days rather than using days of the week. Change the sessions to fit your own routine. Ideally, avoid training the day before a game and leave at least 24 hours between sessions.
| Basic Soccer Conditioning Program | |
| Day 1 | 20min strength circuit, 20-30min fartlek running, 10min stretching |
| Day 2 | Rest |
| Day 3 | Rest |
| Day 4 | 20min strength circuit, 20-30min minute speed running, 10min stretching |
| Day 5 | Rest |
| Day 6 | Match |
| Day 7 | Rest |
Soccer Conditioning Strength Circuit
Start by warming up - 5mins of jogging on the spot, high knees, heel flicks, jumping jacks etc. Do 5mins of stretching to all major muscle groups.
Repetitions: 30sec per station# of circuits: 2Rest between stations: 20secRest between circuits: 2min
Press ups
Squat thrusts
Lateral raises (using dumbbells/resistance bands)
Sit to stand (with dumbbells)
Crunches
Jumping jacks
Dips
Burpees
Fartlek Running
Rather than running at a continuous pace, why not make it much more soccer specific. Soccer conditioning should involve running, jogging and sprinting in no set order.
Run for 20-30 minutes at varying paces. The idea is to keep it as random as possible. For example start by jogging lightly for 5 minutes (to recover from your circuit)...
Then sprint for 20yards...
Then slow jog for 100yards...
Cruise for 200yards...
Run backwards for 20 yards...
Turn and sprint for 30yards...
Walk for 50yards...
Jog for 300yards...
And so on.
Use level of fatigue to determine when to sprint or when you need to jog or walk or whatever. So, on a scale from 1 to 10 (1 being a walk in the park, 10 being and all-out, gut-wrenching slog) keep your session at about a level 7 throughout.If you need to jog most of the way that's fine. Build up over a period of weeks to more intense sessions as you become fitter.
Speed Running
Again rather than just running at a set pace, here you jog, cruise, jog, sprint, jog, walk and then rpeat the cycle... jog, cruise sprint, walk.
This session is not designed to be as intense as the Fartlek run earlier in the week. Instead focus on running form - an upright posture, keeping your elbows and arms in a straight line.
Each jog, cruise, walk or sprint should be no more than 20 yards. Really focus on maximum speed in the sprint and maximum form in the cruise (about 75% top speed). The jog should be very slow to allow you to get your breath back. If you need to, walk and jog further distances to fully recover before sprinting again.
Stretching Sessions
At the end of your sessions (and at the end of a match if you can), stretch the hamstrings, groins, quads, calves and lower back. Hold each stretch longer than you do in the warm up - 20-30 seconds. Do 2 stretches per muscle group.
Click here for more information on soccer stretching
And that's it...
A basic 3-day a week soccer conditioning program that any player, at any level can follow. As a side note...
6 weeks before the season starts why not throw in an extra session on the day you would usually play a match? Three routines like those above will do far more for your games than simply running continuously for half and hour.
Advanced Soccer Conditioning & Fitness
Not too long ago, I created Total Soccer Fitness - a comprehensive step-by-step guide to peak soccer performance...
It covers all the important elements of fitness in depth - strength, power, speed & agility, endurance etc., but more importantly it features dozens of sample training programs and drills designed specifically for the sport.
Coaches and players around the world (at all levels of the game) are using the concepts in Total Soccer Fitness to gain a huge competitve edge...
For more information click here...
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