Soccer is a high-intensity, multi-dimensional sport that is physically, mentally and technically demanding.
In addition to the many skill requirements, elite soccer players cover approximately 10 to 12 km per game
– 2 of them at maximum speed. These activities are not simply back and forth movements. In fact, time
motion analysis studies show that outfield players in the English Premier League, one of the most exciting
and watched soccer leagues in the world, perform a variety of locomotive actions including backpedaling,
lateral shuffles, curved runs, skipping, sliding and jumping. These requirements mean that soccer players
need excellent i) muscular endurance, ii) explosive power, iii) speed and iv) agility; in addition to being
able to manipulate the ball and maneuver within the environment.
In comparison to elite (college, professional, etc.) teams that have at least 4 training days per week, and
sometimes twice-a-day sessions, most North American youth clubs as well as competitive teams at the
amateur level practice twice – and sometimes only ONCE – per week. Frequently, the coaches of these
teams complain that there is insufficient time for fitness training. Conversely, coaches, especially at the
youth level, often dedicate too much time to conditioning and not enough time to the technical and
tactical development of their players. Although it is necessary for a soccer-training program to
incorporate a fitness component, it is important that this is not done at the expense of other aspects of
player development. Establishing a sound technical base is essential, especially for younger players, and
this must not be neglected.
In Volumes 1 and 2 of Total Soccer Conditioning: A Ball-Oriented Approach, we introduce a
comprehensive coaching methodology for soccer fitness that integrates physical conditioning with the
technical and tactical component.
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