Soccer Trainer

Does it sound familiar when I say that stretching forms an integral part of soccer training tips and is widely recommended and practiced by almost all sportspersons? As a sport, soccer is growing and developing incessantly in its superiority.

When it comes to kid’s training for soccer, two types of stretching i.e. static and dynamic stretching are included in it.

Static stretching requires the kids to extend their muscles as far as they can and hold for a given duration of time. Recurring motions, rebounding, and rhythmic bouncing are performed by the players while doing dynamic stretching. In general, it is not considered as effective as static stretching and more dangerous than static stretching.

This article shares some of the benefits that stretching provides in helping average players become champions.

Soccer Training

Stretching reduces injuries: Constant stretching by players during the day and continuing it over a period of time helps the growth of their muscles, thus diminishing the risk of injury. Stretching also provides a way of increasing the muscle size and strength.

Stretching influences flexibility: Stretching puts off the loss of flexibility. However, the support is more convincing for a long-term stretching line up than for shorter periods of time.

Performing stretching for a few minutes before starting any playing activity is likely to enhance flexibility. But, of all the soccer training tips, the best is where stretching program is extended over a longer period of time that constantly improves the player’s range of motion.

Stretching perks up performance: When stretching program is designed specifically to suit soccer needs of the players, their performance improves.

Make stretching fun for the kids: You can do this by including a variety of soccer drills into your training regimen. Keep changing the warm up activities that are performed before stretching. Try various activities like tag games, ball tag, and keep away.

Contemplate on the stretching, sense and know each stretch, along with checking for stiffness in the body.

For a majority of kids, one stretch of15-30 minutes is sufficient for each muscle group but some kids may take longer stretches or more repetitions.

This is due to the fact that when the temperature of muscles is higher than normal, inflexibility decreases and extensibility increases. Kids who hope to retain or boost their flexibility can somewhat reach this goal by stretching. It is better, safer, and more productive to do stretching exercises when the body temperature is higher than normal.

This is why some coaches tend to make their kids perform stretching exercises after a workout as well. If your kids stretch for 5-10 minutes after performing soccer skills, their muscles will not tighten too fast.

Generally, players who exercise an active warm-up prior to stretching get a better range of motion than those who only stretch. So if injury prevention is your aim, stop stretching before exercise and increase the warm up time.

When feeling stiff or inflexible, the most important soccer training tips is to allow kids to warm up sufficiently, as doing stretches would not help them become flexible, and will become boring and futile. You can subscribe to our youth soccer coaching community and get your way to innumerable articles, videos, and periodic newsletters.

Andre Botelho is the author of “The Expert Youth Soccer Coaching Guide” and he’s a recognized expert in the subject of youth soccer coaching. Learn  how to explode your players’ skills and make coaching sessions fun in less than 29 days! Download your free pdf guide at: Youth Soccer Drills.

Would you answer this simple question? Almost all soccer coaches tend to ignore the soccer training tips while designing training programs for kids with the intent of just making up the numbers and going through the motions. Do you find yourself doing the same thing?

Before you design your next training programs, make sure you set some specific goals for your team. Decide on what you wish to achieve from the training program and then take all steps necessary to realize your goals.

With a view to add variety in your training program, add new and innovative soccer drills that are fun to perform. This will give the players a break from the dullness of performing repetitive drills day in and day out. You’ll notice a positive change in your kid’s performance once they begin to enjoy their training sessions.

Make your players understand the value of respecting and listening to you, their coach, no matter what their age or level at which they play. Respecting each other feelings promotes a friendly atmosphere for both the kids as well as the coach.

Soccer Training

Soccer players can greatly benefit from having a high level of flexibility. There are 3 types of flexibility.

Dynamic flexibility: Just like twisting from one side to another, it’s the player’s ability to carry out brisk movements within the full range of motion in the joint.

Static active flexibility: The ability to stretch a tough muscle by using the tension within that muscle is termed as static active flexibility. For example; hold one leg as high as possible in front of you. Here, your hamstrings are stretched when your 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.

Now let’s advance towards the next stage in the line of soccer training tips. This calls for a need to examine and ensure that the clothes worn by kids to the field are apt for the weather.

Training for soccer should be followed by a fitness program that focuses only on those areas that need maximum help. One should keep the following factors in mind while designing such a training program.

Kid’s age: There is a direct connection between decrease in the flexibility of soft tissues and the reduced range of movement, as one grows older, notwithstanding the gender. But, if we remain active, the flexibility will always remain.

Gender: Girls exhibit a greater range of movement, independent of their age.

Movement: In demonstrating soccer skills, active kids show a better range of movement that the inactive kids.

Injury: Injuries also get in the way the range of motion in a joint.

Pain: With an increase in pain, flexibility decreases resulting in muscle spasms. But, strength training does not slow down flexibility if you do the exercises correctly and in full range of motion.

Genetics: A player’s genetics also have an effect on the amount of flexibility that his or her body possesses.

So, there should be no reason why you should not include soccer training tips into your training program for better productivity. You can improve your coaching skills by subscribing to our youth soccer coaching community that has tons of articles, newsletters, and relevant 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.