Introduction to our Soccer Development program
We have soccer players at the beginner level as young as 4 years old in our learn to play program, and as skilled and dedicated as NCAA Division 1 Men & Woman Soccer players. Regardless of skillset and foundational abilities, the process and needs analysis is the same:
Soccer Needs Analysis:
>Like all Sports: Speed/Power/Endurance/Strength are the foundation of sport.
>Aside from soccer specific skill, speed and endurance are the primary separating factors
>Types of Strength Required in Soccer based on Position:
*Sweepers: Reactive Power
*Fullbacks: Acceleration Power, Deceleration Power
*Midfielders: Acceleration Power, Deceleration Power, Muscular Endurance
*Forwards: Acceleration Power, Deceleration Power, Reactive Power
Soccer Specific Speed & Skill Training
The primary focus our our speed development program is its ability to transfer immediately to the Soccer field. To accomplish this we look at:
Typical Movement distances:
5-10 yards (Jeffreys 2007)
Average distances vary per position. Wingbacks, on average see the longest runs, however these are generally peppered with bouts of sub maximal speeds, stops, starts and changes of direction
We utilize a number of starting starts, falling starts, rolling starts to sprints to generate soccer specific transferable speed
Typical Movement directions:
Linear makes up approximately 50% of movement patterns, while the remaining 50% is laterally, diagonally and reverse, in vary combinations.
Our emphasis is on: competency in all movement patterns
Bicomechanical Efficiency and fluidity in changes of direction, this not only increases in in game speed, but decreases injury potential
Typical starting patterns & movement combinations:
All of our drills, sprint work, agility work begin and end with various movement patterns not only replicating sport but adding the ability to provide instant feedback while participating
Perceptual Stimuli:
Based on this information we implement a Soccer Speed and agility program, that is supplemented by a strength and conditioning, and fundamentally looks as follows:
Accelerations:
Example Drills:
Wall Drive - single leg exchange
Lateral ball drop
Multi directional rolling starts
Plyometrics: broad jump, SL Vertical jump, Lateral hop
Change of direction drills:
Example Drills:
Side shuffle & Cut
Run to space
Curved running
1 on 1’s versus defender
Maximum Speed Drills
Example Drills:
Acceleration Runs
Ins & Outs
Deceleration Drills:
Example Drills:
Decelerate from sprint to a staggered Defensive stance
Decelerate from sprint to soccer specific skill: touch, pass, shoot, dribble
Soccer Specific Skills are implemented in all drills, passing, shooting, touch, dribbling based on athletes specific skillset, needs and pre established plan.
Soccer Specific Strength and Conditioning for All Ages
Our Soccer strength and conditioning program is individualized to each respective athlete. The programs are guided by:
Performance Assessment
Injury Screening
Coaches, Parent, Athlete feedback
Location in the annual plan: pre season, in season, off season
Current level of exercise experience
Age
Gender
Previous Injuries
Number of sessions attended each week
Contributing stress factors: Practices, games, tournaments, other sports, exams, tests etc.
Please reach out and schedule an assessment. We look forward to creating your performance plan today.
Billy@LarkinsSportsPerformance.com
Success Plans:
Demands of youth sports are constantly increasing:
The number of:
Practices
Games
Skill sessions
Clubs offering versions of “sports performance”
With all of this stress on our young athletes bodies it is important that we track:
Recovery
Nutrition
Injury prevention via injury screening then action plan
Weight monitoring in order to prevent over training and injuries
A development plan that is built around the athletes specific schedule in order to prevent injury and maximize development
Please contact us to discuss a plan moving forward.