Ultimately in any sport, your level of fitness determines the level of skill
you can apply…
Even world-beaters can look foolish if they lack the physical strength and
stamina to apply their talents.
Every soccer player can relate to the feeling of complete exhaustion after several bouts of all-out sprinting… shortly followed by the embarrassment of jelly-like legs trying to perform the simplest of passes!
Without doubt…
The more highly conditioned you become, the more consistently you can perform. Get your conditioning program right, and it gives you (or your entire team) an unparalleled competitive edge.
At every level, the game is littered with players who lack elegance but whose physical power makes them deadly efficient. While there is no substitute for natural ability, with hard work and application you can tap a level of potential you never realized was within you.
Few players (and coaches) outside the professional game really appreciate the impact that a well-planned conditioning program can have on performance. Of the few who do, even less understand what it really takes to become fit for soccer.
Total Soccer Fitness will show you how to become a stronger, faster, fitter, more consistent player.
It will help you to reach a level of conditioning that allows you to perform unhindered with poise and finesse. Follow the guidelines within this text and not only will your level of self-confidence and consistency improve, you’ll enjoy the game so much more.
How to Use Total Soccer Fitness
As you read this introduction it can be a little disconcerting to know there’s
some 150 pages or so to devour… especially if you’re eager to get out there
and put a program into practice.
Total Soccer Fitness covers every conditioning component important to
soccer – in detail. More importantly…
It’s a step-by-step guide with one end-goal in mind…
To help you implement a highly effective, do-able fitness plan.
Here are three ways to achieve that aim:
Option 1
Cherry-pick drills and exercises and plug them into your existing program. It
will help to keep your training sessions fresh and efficient. To expand the
idea slightly…
You might select an entire section – strength training or speed training for
example – and use it as an adjunct to your current regimen.
Option 2
Design a full 12-month conditioning program. Yes, it will take some
forethought and pre-planning and yes, you do need to be adaptable as the
season throws up new challenges, but it’s a challenge that could transform
you as a player or a coach.
Option 3
Design a single phase of training. Does an entire twelve months sound like
overkill for what you need? Then stick to one phase of the season – the preseason perhaps and take it from there.
Total Soccer Fitness has been developed to make it as easy and practical
as possible to design and implement your own professional conditioning
program.
The first six sections of the book cover the core elements of an effective
soccer conditioning program… everything from aerobic training to fitness
testing. In each of these sections you will find sample programs and routines.
Remember that many of the exercise images and descriptions are in a
separate, downloadable e-book called the Soccer Exercise Library. For
quick and easy reference, they have been organized to co-ordinate with the
sections here.
The final chapter pulls everything together. It features sample annual and
pre-season programs you can begin using immediately.