Soccer Training Tips: Tips On Flexibility
There’s something I’d like to know from you. Almost all soccer coaches tend to ignore the soccer training tips while designing training programs for kids with the intent of just making up the numbers and going through the motions. Do you fall in the same category?
Before planning your next training session, set some goals for the team. Determine in advance what you wish to achieve form this program and do whatever it takes to accomplish that.
Add to your training program such soccer drills that are new, innovative, and fun to perform so as to add variety. It will allow the players to try something new instead to repeatedly doing the same drills every day. Once players start enjoying their practice sessions, you’ll notice that their performance will improve consistently.
Make your players learn to respect you and listen to you, irrespective of their age or the level at which they play. Valuing each other’s opinions and feelings creates a healthy environment for both players and the coach.
Soccer players always have an advantage of the level of flexibility is high. It has been divided into 3 categories.
Dynamic flexibility: It is the ability to perform energetic movements within the full range of motion in the joint, for example; twisting side to side.
Static active flexibility: This is the aptitude of a player to stretch a hard muscle by using the tension from within that muscle. One example is to hold one leg in front of you and keep it as high as you can. Doing this your hamstring is stretched and as the hip flexors and quadriceps grip your leg up.
Static passive: Ability to use your body weight or some outside force to hold a stretch is termed as static passive flexibility. For instance; hold your leg out in front of you and rest it on a chair.
Moving further, let’s now see what is next in the line of soccer training tips. It requires you to check that kids are wearing an appropriate gear, depending on the weather conditions.
Training for soccer should be complemented by a fitness program that is designed to identify and improve upon the weak areas. Keep the following factors in mind whenever you are designing this kind of a training program.
Age of the player: With age, there is a decrease in the flexibility of soft tissues in the body that is directly related to the reduced range of movement, no matter what the gender. Even though, the more we remain active, the lesser are the chances of flexibility decreasing.
Gender: Girls display more range and movement irrespective of their age.
Movement: In demonstrating soccer skills, active kids show a better range of movement that the inactive kids.
Injury: Injuries also impede the range of motion in a joint.
Pain: As the pain increases, flexibility decreases and results in muscle spasms. On the other hand, strength training does not affect flexibility if you are doing the exercises correctly and in full range of motion.
Genetics: A player’s genetics also decide the amount of flexibility that his or her body has.
What’s stopping you from incorporating these soccer training tips into your training program and make it more effective and productive? You can develop your coaching skills by subscribing to our youth soccer coaching community that has loads of articles, newsletters, and significant videos.
Andre Botelho is a recognized authority in youth soccer coaching and has already helped thousands of youth coaches to dramatically improve their coaching skills. Learn how to explode your players’ skills and make training fun by downloading your free ebook at: Soccer Drills For Kids.