Information On Preseason College Soccer Training

By Andrea Davidson


The difference between being ready for the opening game of the college soccer season and being unfit is like the difference between night and day. One of the most important aspects of any college soccer training program is preseason. If a trainer prepares thoroughly for the opening game then that could be the difference between being able to last 90 minutes, and wilting before the end of the game.

The training schedule needs to be planned with precision, in order to maximize the impact of each session. In an ideal world this will start 5 or 6 weeks prior to the season opening game. Normally you'll start off each sessions with a light warm-up, one that includes stretching and a little light jogging to get the muscles warm. It's important not to strain them during these sessions, that's why the emphasis is on warming up thoroughly.

Working the legs is crucial because players use them so much throughout a game. The arms are important too. Exercises for these muscle groups include stationery ones and moving exercises. Stationery involves stretching and moving exercises involve circular motions of the arms and legs.

Running forms an important part of the training regime because in soccer there is a lot of running around. Aerobic conditioning is vital and should be gradually increased as the season nears. Cross country running and sprinting should be undertaken as these will get you fit quickly. Later you should also start dribbling with the ball, practicing control and movement.

As the season draws near, most trainers will focus on the getting players ready for actual games. This means more working with the ball and more sprinting, as this is a key component of soccer. By this time players are usually separated into teams, with one team working on their fitness by closing down the other team with the ball. The opposing team, in the meantime are actually working on their close quarter ball control, trying to pass around their opponents.

It's important that each player practices shooting and free kicks. Often this takes place right at the end of a session and it gives the goalkeeper valuable practice at stopping the ball. When warming down after these sessions it's absolutely essential that it's done gently, so that muscles are not torn or overworked. A warm down isn't supposed to be intense.

The idea is to make sure that the early part of preseason involves light work. Taking things easy is important because some players will return to training unfit, and they'll need more time to build up their fitness. To make sure that boredom does not set in, it's a good idea to incorporate some fun into practice. If not, players will find it demotivating and might not try hard.

When the season is ready to start players will probably still not be fully match fit. The idea of college soccer training is to make sure players are ready to play competitive games. However, the only way to get fully fit for games is to actually play competitively against other teams. Preseason training is a great way of getting started.




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