Hey Team and Soccer Families,
Coach Mick here! Today, let’s talk about an important aspect of soccer – fitness. It’s crucial for our young players to develop their physical abilities in a safe and healthy manner. Here’s how we approach fitness for our players.
Age-Appropriate Training
Fitness training should always be age-appropriate. Our younger players aren’t mini adults, and their training should reflect that. Instead of intense, structured workouts, we focus on fun activities that naturally improve fitness – think games of tag, obstacle courses, or relay races.
Focus on Fundamental Movements
Before specific soccer skills, children should master fundamental movement skills, like running, jumping, throwing, and catching. These skills form the foundation for future athletic development. We incorporate these movements into our training sessions in a fun and engaging way.
Soccer-Specific Conditioning
As players get older, we introduce more soccer-specific conditioning. This might include short, high-intensity drills that mimic the demands of a soccer game. However, the majority of fitness work still comes from small-sided games and skill-based activities.
Recovery and Rest
Rest is just as important as training. Young bodies need time to recover and grow. We ensure that our training schedule includes plenty of downtime, and we encourage our players to get plenty of sleep – it’s when most growth and recovery occurs!
Healthy Habits
Finally, we promote healthy lifestyle habits. We encourage our players to eat a balanced diet, stay hydrated, and spend time outdoors. Soccer isn’t just about what happens on the pitch, it’s about developing healthy, happy individuals.
Remember, at this age, the primary goal is to develop a love of physical activity and soccer. The fitter our players are, the more they can enjoy the game!
Keep having fun, keep staying active,
Coach Mick
