Soccer Training Tips: The Truth About Flexibility
Let me ask you a simple question. Not following the soccer training tips, most soccer coaches blindly design training programs for their players just to make up the numbers and simply go through the motions. Are you guilty of this?
Set some definite goals for your team before you plan your next training session. Establish what you wish to achieve from the training program and take the necessary steps to achieve your target.
Introduce new, fun, and innovative soccer drills in your training sessions to add variety. This will give the players a break from the dullness of performing repetitive drills day in and day out. Once players start enjoying their practice sessions, you’ll notice that their performance will improve consistently.
Notwithstanding their age and the level at which they play, your players must learn to respect you and listen to you. Appreciating each other’s feelings creates an environment that is pleasant for both the coach and the kids.
A high level of flexibility greatly benefits every soccer player. It’s been categorized into 3 parts.
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: It is the ability to stretch a difficult muscle using only the tension within that very muscle. Holding one leg out in front of you as high as possible is an example of this. The hamstrings are stretched while the quadriceps and hip flexors hold your leg up.
Static passive: It’s the skill of using the body weight or some external force to hold a stretch. For example; picture yourself holding your leg out in front of you and relaxing it on a chair.
Moving further, let’s now see what is next in the line of soccer training tips. Here, you need to check if the kids are clad in appropriate clothes that suit the weather conditions.
Training for soccer and a fitness program should go hand in hand with a view to work upon those areas that need most help. Keep the following factors in mind whenever you are designing this kind of a training program.
Player’s age: Decrease in the flexibility of soft tissue with aging is directly related to the reduced range of movement as one grows older, irrespective of the gender. But, if we remain active, the flexibility will always remain.
Gender: Girls show greater movement, no matter what their age.
Activity: When it comes to displaying soccer skills, active individuals demonstrate a greater range of movement than inactive individuals.
Injury: Injuries also hamper the range of motion in a joint.
Pain: There is a decrease in flexibility as pain increases that result in muscle spasms. Nonetheless, flexibility in kids is not hampered by strength training unless the exercises are done correctly and in full range of motion.
Genetics: The amount of flexibility that a player possesses also depends upon his genetics.
Therefore, soccer training tips like these should always be a part of the training program that makes it more useful and effective. 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.
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