Training Needed To Become A Soccer Player

To become a soccer player, you need to develop certain attributes. Unlike many other sports, you can be good at soccer without genetic giftedness or a particular body shape; however, you do need to put in hours of practice. Improving your technique in certain aspects of the game is important, but you also need to focus on making yourself a better all-round athlete.

Individual Practice

Before you put yourself into game situations, you need to become comfortable with the ball at your feet. Set aside an hour each day to perform some basic drills. Learn to dribble around cones, keeping the ball close to your feet at all times; practice passing against a wall and shoot into an empty net. Once you are comfortable controlling the ball on your own, join in five-on-five matches with friends.

Team Practice

Soccer is a team sport so it is vital that you get some 11-on-11 match experience. Join a local team and take part in its training sessions. These sessions should involve passing, shooting and tackling drills, as well as noncompetitive matches. Team practice will also help you develop an understanding of tactics, positioning and teamwork.

Fitness and Agility Training

You will work at different intensities throughout a soccer match and use different energy systems in your body, which all need to be efficient if you wish to become a successful player. Make sure you train all of them, performing twice-weekly fitness sessions, with each session including a selection of sprints, jogs and walks. You should also include some agility work with ladders, shuttle runs and lateral sprints.

Strength Training

Strength training is an often overlooked aspect of soccer training. This can help make you stronger, quicker, more powerful and reduce your risk of injury. Perform two full body weight sessions per week, focusing on compound free-weight exercises such as squats, dead lifts, bench presses and rows. You should also include lots of accessory work for your upper back, shoulders and core, but keep your sessions to no more than an hour.