Spain v. France: Blueprints for Developing Soccer Talent?
A great article written right before the Spain vs. France Quarter Final match of the 2010 World Cup...we can learn something about youth development from both of these countries!
A great article written right before the Spain vs. France Quarter Final match of the 2010 World Cup...we can learn something about youth development from both of these countries!
Having worked in the fitness industry for my entire adult life, I have been exposed to hundreds of different fitness trainers, with equally as many different types of fitness training methods. It seems that every few months, a new fad (be it a new piece of equipment, exercise video, training theory/methodology, etc..) gets hailed as [...]
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUovKoZWbFs Another in our series of single-leg strengthening exercises. This one is very useful to strengthen the quads, hamstrings, adductors/groin muscles, and glutes, while at the same time improving hip mobility and flexibility. To perform this exercise, stand with feet wider than shoulder-width apart, and toes pointing forwards, holding a medicine ball (or soccer ball) [...]
Anyone who knows me well knows I love running fitness assessments. In my business, we conduct fitness assessments on soccer players 1 day per week, every week, for 50 out of the 52 weeks of the year. Among the tests we use is the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test, which is still the best and most [...]
Soccer at the highest level can be very physically demanding. Over the course of a 90-minute game, top level players can run up to 15 kilometres, including 2000-3000 metres at high intensity. All that running has another important effect on players - it causes them to sweat. A lot. More, in fact, over a 2-hour [...]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMZzHbMjG_I Another great single-leg strengthening exercise that can be done anywhere, including on the pitch - all you need is a bench. The Bulgarian lunge helps to stabilize the hip and knee, while at the same time strengthen the glutes, hamstrings, and quadriceps, one leg at a time. To perform the Bulgarian lunge, stand on [...]
In a recent study conducted by the American Council on Exercise (ACE), in conjunction with the Clinical Exercise Physiology program at the University of Wisconsin, LaCrosse, researchers interviewed 70 youth coaches, asking them questions covering these seven health/fitness related subject areas: exercise physiology practice design nutrition hydration basic first aid concussion care strength training knowledge [...]
My facility, the Soccer Fitness Training Centre, is located inside an indoor soccer facility. Since I spend a lot of time in my facility on weekends, I get to see a lot of people participating in weekend indoor adult soccer leagues. These people, because of their propensity for playing soccer only on weekends, have earned [...]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0G8n7SOI7_w This is another example of an excellent single-leg strengthening exercise. This one is focused on the hamstring muscles. Hold a stick (broom sticks work best) behind your back, with one arm held over the head and the other arm behind the back. Stand on the leg opposite to the hand that is over the [...]