I began learning how to coach around the same time I began learning about sport science, when I got a job coaching a YMCA boys’ soccer team almost 17 years ago, while I was also an undergraduate student in Toronto. Even at that time, the synergy between what I was learning about coaching – how [...]
Hi Everyone, In this edition of the Soccer Fitness Gols Video Blog, I discuss the need for fitness and strength / conditioning coaches who work in soccer, to be more than just "repetition counters" in their day-to-day work. If you do work in soccer, you need to build upon the "conditioning" piece of "strength and [...]
Hi Everyone, In this week's edition of the Soccer Fitness Gols Video Blog, I summarise the week o August 7th-13th, 2017, which I spent sitting in and observing training with the Miami FC and their Fitness Coach (a long-time friend and colleague) Paolo Pacione. I also provide some recommendations for Canadian fitness coaches and soccer [...]
(Photo credit: The Miami FC). On the week of August 7th-13th, 2017, I visited my old friend and colleague Paolo Pacione, who has been the Head of Fitness and Performance at the Miami FC of the North American Soccer League for the past 2 years. Pacione has had an extensive background working at the highest [...]
Hi Everyone, In this edition of the Soccer Fitness Gols Video Blog, I discuss and explain some of the evidence demonstrating that the technical, tactical and physical demands of Futsal are in fact higher than in 11 vs. 11 soccer. The implications of this evidence? That playing Futsal will make you a better athlete AND [...]
Hi Everyone, With the coming of August 2017 and the end of the summer soccer season approaching, I thought this would be the perfect time to let you all know about some of Soccer Fitness' Coach Education opportunities through our unique Soccer Fitness Trainer's Courses, that are coming up this Fall. Our Soccer Fitness Trainer's [...]
Hi Everyone, In this edition of the Soccer Fitness Gols Video Blog, I discuss our Canadian Men's National Team's recent performances in the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup, and specifically how the great majority of young soccer players I spoke with in my business over the past 3 weeks were unaware even of Canada's participation in [...]
On the weekend of July 21st-23rd, 2017, I was invited to attend the first-ever Futsal Canada Conference in Ottawa, Ontario, and to give a presentation about the physical demands of futsal, plus guidelines and best practices for futsal coaches in testing, training, and monitoring their players and teams. Representatives from 6 different provinces were in [...]
Hi Everyone, In this week's edition of the Soccer Fitness Gols Video Blog, I discuss the problem of soccer coaches and teams cancelling their scheduled training sessions - sometimes even days before they happen - simply because of rain or other bad weather. I explain why this is a problem and suggest some possible solutions [...]
Hi Everyone, In this week's edition of the Soccer Fitness Gols Video Blog, I discuss what I learned in my recent trip to Buenos Aires, Argentina. There, professional youth academy players - some as young as 12 years of age - are already training 5 days per week. In spite of the fact that one [...]