Soccer players are athletes, but unlike a 100m runner where there
is explosive speed for 10 seconds in a straight line, there are many
other abilities that soccer players need to develop.
Here are 5 key soccer related speed abilities that you should develop in your players.
#1 - Speed of thought
Soccer
players have a great deal to concentrate on. There senses are
constantly being blitzed with information, which they need to quickly
decipher. Here are some examples:
- Where opponents are positioned
- Actions of their team mates
- What's infront of them and their peripheral vision
- The conditions of the pitch and the weather
- The noise from team mates, crowd, coaches and opponents
- Their tactical position and the strategy of the team
#2 - Speed of anticipation
Some
players have a great reading of the game. I have a friend who although
he is now in his late 40's early 50's still plays regularly and competes
well with players half his age!
How does he do this... because
he's played soccer all his life at professional and international level
he has built a huge database in his brain of playing situations, player
characteristics, tactical situations etc. and he is able to draw on this
which gives him superb speed of anticipation.
Sure for
explosiveness and reaction times the younger players would win every
time, but as the old saying goes..."the first couple of yards are in the
head!".
So here it is important that players develop a knack of
interpreting the actions of the opponents and what that means to the
games development.
#3 - Speed of reaction
As mentioned in the last bullet, speed of reaction is vital.
Anticipation is one thing, being able to react quickly is another.
Consider
the role of the goal keeper, their reaction time to a sudden shot,
deflection, switch in angle of attack, flight of the ball must be very
acute.
But how does a goal keeper react and what to? In this
instance, the goal keeper will react to a number of external stimuli,
here's a list:
- The visual element of the opponent with the ball,
are they carrying it, have they got backlift as if ready to strike the
ball, is the opponent in space and is their a clear line of sight on
goal
- The auditory element, do they hear the strike of the ball,
is it fizzing, does it take a deflection of a player (thud), a shout
from a team mate, maybe a close opponent barracking the goalie " he's
going to shoot!"
All of these stimuli will have an effect on the player.
Once stimulated the player should choose the best option available to them to react to that situation.
Again we will use the goalie;
If
a shot is fizzing towards them low and hard, the pitch is wet and
quick, and there are a number of players the ball has to go through
before hitting the target, do they get down low anticipating a clear
strike on goal, have quick feet and get their body in line with the
expected flight path, do they dive towards the ball, kneel or hack the
ball?
The answer to this question lies in the ability, confidence and experience of the player.
#4 Speed of feet
Here we are talking about the basic running / sprinting motor skills.
Initial
explosion and acceleration are vital to covering the ground quickly.
Speed of feet is without the ball, and since it is without the ball it
is rarely in a straight line.
Therefore, as a players progress is
often inhibited by other players they must adjust and change direction
in relation to their team mates actions and those of the opponents.
Explosive
speed is generated from the leg muscles stretching and contracting to
achieve maximum power, but good running technique, driving through the
arms and co-ordination are also vital.
#5 Skill speed
Watching a player run at pace and carry the ball is a truly awesome sight.
Sprinting
full out while keeping possession and holding off any challenges from
opponents to dribble and create an opportunity to shoot at goal is a
tremendous ability.
This key skill though is still built on the last point which is speed of feet.
However,
while a player may be very quick is only advantageous if their ball
manipulation and technical skills are as up to speed as their pace
(pardon the pun).
So, what can you do to help coach the 5 key speed principles?
#1
Speed of thought - enable players to make their own decisions, that
means give them lots of opportunites to make choices. Condition games so
that it forces them to think.
Play soccer games with them, don't
just do drill work. By playing games they will also gain experience
which help them build their database from which to draw on.
Keep
them motivated, players will not think unless they are motivated and
stimulated to do so. Finally, let them be free of any fear and stress of
making wrong decisions.
#2 Speed of anticipation - play more soccer, coach them through the game.
Ask plenty of questions on how they are reading the game development.
Offer your insights into positions they have taken up in relation to opponents advances, both strengths and weaknesses.
#3
Speed of reaction - use reaction balls, have goal keeper starting
positions with their back to play and react to shots, play rebounds off
walls.
Try not to use your whistle or command as the key for the
reaction as this wouldn't happen in a real game so don't practice this
way.
#4 Speed of feet - always, always warm the muscles up before doing any speed work!
Do
some sprints, keep it high intensity with short sharp bursts. Develop
good running technique with the use of speed ladders and hurdles.
Try
using some different starting positions to like standing, from a jump
and land, on their back, on their stomach, incorporate turns, feints and
directional changes.
#5 Skill speed - make your training
as game related as possible, focusing on speed with the ball, movement,
game related distances and challenge.
Hopefully this has given you some good food for thought, enjoy your training!
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