The future of soccer conditioning has arrived. With content ranging from how to properly develop speed, strength, power, and agility in players at all levels to unique position-specific training guidelines and detailed return-to-play protocols, Complete Conditioning for Soccer is a real game changer. Training protocols and progressions, complete with schematics of on-field conditioning drills, guide conditioning for players from youth to professional levels. Field players of every position will increase strength to dribble through traffic. Forwards will pack more power into shots on goal. Central midfielders will improve quickness and agility to find open passing lanes and evade opponents. Goalkeepers will develop the explosiveness to cover the width of the goal to make that save. Emphasizing player movement and conditioning needs for the long term, you will learn the positional and seasonal demands that directly impact player development and performance and discover the significant differences between playing styles, positions, levels of play, and genders. To keep players game-ready, you’ll find detailed information on avoiding some of the most common soccer injuries as well as step-by-step, position-specific training protocols for players returning from injury. Written by Ryan Alexander, the director of sports science for Atlanta United Football Club (MLS), Complete Conditioning for Soccer takes the process of physical preparation for soccer to a whole new level.

"This book is an authoritative, practical guide to designing resistance training programs for soccer. It provides principles of resistance training, exercise descriptions, program design guidelines, and sample programs"--

Contains ninety-three practice drills and exercises designed to help children develop the stamina and skills needed to play soccer.

A complete guide to developing every aspect of conditioning for soccer players. Europe's top soccer conditioning experts contributed the following chapters: Soccer Strength Training, Soccer Specific Endurance Training, Speed Training for Soccer, Pre-Season Conditioning, Goalkeeper Training, Fitness Testing and Injury Prevention.

Strength and power are key elements of soccer performance. A stronger player can sprint faster, jump higher, change direction more quickly and kick the ball harder. Strength Training for Soccer introduces the science of strength training for soccer. Working from a sound evidence-base, it explains how to develop a training routine that integrates the different components of soccer performance, including strength, speed, coordination and flexibility, and outlines modern periodization strategies that keep players closer to their peak over an extended period. Dealing with themes of injury prevention, rehabilitation and interventions, as well as performance, the book offers a uniquely focused guide to the principles of strength and conditioning in a footballing context. Fully referenced, and full of practical drills, detailed exercise descriptions, training schedules and year plans, Strength Training for Soccer is essential reading for all strength and conditioning students and any coach or trainer working in football.

This book reviews the general acute effects and adaptations of small-sided and conditioned games (SSCGs) in terms of physiological responses, technical performance and methodology/periodization in the game of soccer. It also reviews the many studies conducted in the past decade to investigate the influence of SSCGs on physiological responses and technical performance in soccer training. SSCGs, which are smaller and adapted versions of formal team sports, are very popular training drills for players at all ability levels and competitive levels and offer an alternative to traditional fitness training. Exploring their role in depth, this book offers a valuable resource for academics, researchers and coaches with an interest in developing improved training techniques for soccer.

The Strong Female Athlete is an evidence-based and experience-based text with a fresh, novel approach for youth female athletes to improve speed, reduce injury, and increase strength. In this exuberant body of work, Erica Suter gives a deep understanding of female athlete growth and maturation, anatomy and physiology, nutritional needs, menstrual cycle considerations, and performance training progressions. She presents the science, but in a way that is readable and fun for coaches, parents, and young girls. This is way easier to read than a scientific study! The final chapters discuss mental training and how female athletes can improve confidence, and overcome challenges from sports and life.