Good Training Routines For Soccer Players

Good training routines for soccer players can have a huge effect on player's develop, with the knowledge that a good routine has the potential to turn any humble Sunday league soccer player into the next Lionel Messi. Consistent and scheduled training enhances a player's fitness, skill and attitude towards the game and can really be the difference between a player succeeding in the sport.

The Importance of Warm-Up

• Every successful training routine must start with a good warm-up of around 10-15 minutes before any training occurs. Dynamic stretching serves to protect the player's muscles from unnecessary risk of injury and increases the positive effects of working out, meaning that 20 minutes of training after stretching would be more beneficial than 40 minutes without warming-up. Jogging, skipping, side shuffles and forward lunges warm and stretch your muscles dynamically and should always be used when warming-up before a workout. Incorporating these dynamic stretching routines ensures a safer and more productive workout than using static 'stretch and hold' stretches, which have become redundant in training routines for professional soccer player in recent years.

The Importance of Muscle Work

• Developing a player's muscles is a key part of good training routines for soccer players and can be split into two categories; lower body work and upper body work. As expected, lower body muscles are very important for soccer players and routines should look to enhance them wherever possible. good lower body workouts include leg presses, leg curls, calf raises and squats. However, good upper body workouts are also necessary for all soccer players (not just goalkeepers) and should look to include bench pressing, bicep curls, tricep extensions and dips. These should be worked into a player's daily training routine with player's alternating daily between upper body work and lower body work.

The Importance of Ball Work

• As expected, a large amount of all training routines for soccer players should largely include ball work. Alongside fitness, ball work is the most important part of soccer and it is crucial that players should look to enhance their ball skills every day. Good examples of ball work exercises are short range and long range passing practice, practice matches and ball control (including dribbling, kick ups and first touch practice).

Creating A Daily Routine

• Successful soccer players should incorporate all three aspects of a good training routine into a workable daily routine. Daily routines should alternate in the activities carried out in each day, which not only ensures equaled progression in all areas of the sport, but also makes it more enjoyable for the players themselves whilst one day a week should be left for resting. Here is an example of two daily routines.
• Day 1 - Dynamic Stretching -> Sprints -> Lower Body Weights -> Passing Practice -> Dynamic Stretching
• Day 2 - Dynamic Stretching -> Distance Run -> Upper Body Weights -> Practice Match -> Dynamic Stretching
• Following these daily training routines for soccer players will ensure success and progression for any player, whether it be a school newcomer to the sport or a seasoned professional. The use of good training routines for soccer players really makes the difference on the pitch.