I guess from the level of players I deal with, the skill is travel club level high school. Some will play college, but nothing major. Most of them are down right weak to the point of it being a concern from a movement sense. Since training, the biggest things I see are increased confidence, increased velocity of movement, and ball speed. Honestly, I think the kids feel stronger, therefore their playing more aggressively and it’s helping their games according to their coaches. Plus, many of them were injured constantly before under going strength training, not so much anymore. Yeah, I guess I am just one of those who wishes I got more time in the training process, not unlike most other trainers. Been doing this close to 20 years and have seen big changes in the coaches attitudes toward what we do. Just seems like some sports are very resistant to change.
If S&C can work in Soccer anywhere it will be the US first and with children initially also.
As S&C coaches need to do what you can, how you can and develope on an individual basis for those willing and keep hope in your back pocket for change over time.
I think this sums it up perfectly IMO, from another forum…
I was chatting to my mate last night and mentioned this to him. He has played in the premiership and has played for many different clubs.
He said that they do resistance training, but in football the emphasis is on skill, endurance and recovery. Also he mentioned that players with a more muscular physique (drogba etc) are generally built that way. Players who are bulk up may not be able to last 90 minutes on a regular basis.
Essentially due to the nature of the sport there is a trade off and it is not possible to train for the explosive speed and power and be an endurance athlete at the same time.
Forgive me, I have not read this entire thread. But from what I gather this thread discusses the role of S&C in soccer.
The role of endurance vs Strength/Speed/Power. Strength and power training might not seem to be of benefit in a game that is 90 minutes long and has a great endurance component.
Consider the following: while a player may not be able to hold 100% pace while driving forward with the ball for long, he can train so that 100% is now his 85%. This player now has a greater speed reserve when playing. He now plays at a higher level for the entire game. Previously he could only play at 85% of his previous speed and capacity. Regardless of his endurance capacity before and after, he can maintain a higher pace for longer.
I liken any sport that has an intermittent ballistic requirement to the 400m. The more speed/Power you have the less sprinting down a court will take from you, the less a jump shot takes from your legs, ect… The difference between the 400m and these sports are that the 400m actually builds the lactic acid and thus the aerobic component is required.
Because no athlete can hold 100% of their sports intensity for the entire game, and so they typically play at a percentage of it. Endurance training will only raise the percentage of intensity you play at from 85 to 90%. But speed/power training keeps the percentage the same and raises the magnitude. So raise the magnitude instead of the percentage and you’ll out run and outjump others without breaking a sweat.
The issue of bulking up causes a decrease in fitness,in my experiences, is false. If this were the case, then the fitness program needs to be revamped. I have had college players gain upwards of 10 lbs and increase fitness (measures on various tests) over 14 weeks of off season.
I think there is more to this issue then we know. I would be curious how much say the coach has into what is being done. Also, the performance coach likes to keep his job and might not want to rock the boat and does enough to please everyone involved, leaving the players being shorted on their performance. This has occurred with many NFL teams here in the states. S&Cs do the minimal work, and most of it machine based lifting of 2-3x101-2 reps of everything. Athletes don’t get hurt, they (S&C) keep their jobs. Adding plyos, or squats without belts (i.e. NY Yankees fiasco a few years back) and players start bitching, getting hurt, and then you have a firing on your hands.
In soccer the medical team have the authority, in Rugby it’s the fitness team; they dictate training volume and durations in all the training.
When Steve Bruce was at Wigan he actually banned the players from the gym because he thought they would get injured. So I am interested in what he did when he got to Sunderland as I know they lifted in some manner there (Bruce actually played alongside Sunderland’s S&C coach at Man Utd, who coincidentally is the son of the Man Utd S&C coach). Would Bruce change his mind in these circumstances?
Implementing things like this take a long time, and the pro’s are a lost cause. The mindset has to be created at the academy level. Old dog, new tricks and all that.
I agree! I have seen Liverpool’s academy physical training and it appears they seem to copy most of the premiership’s team’s programs. Mainly machine weights, 2-3x10-12!
When a club decides to break tradition, we may see changes, but I don’t anticipate them anytime soon.
I think you can build a very strong fitness base doing extensive tempo work to have the capacity to play 90 mins. Personally, I like my athletes to have the ability to win most 50-50 balls due to superior explosiveness. Look at guys like Wayne Rooney, Ronaldo, Maradona, etc. They could all hit a gear where defenders couldn’t. I think the way some people train players, they run the explosiveness out of the athletes. I see it in american football and hockey all the time. Total lactic training. When I watch soccer on tv, English premiere league, it seems players spend a lot of time standing and or jogging/walking. Every now and then a burst, then back to the lull. It’s like hockey. Whay the hell run miles to get fit for a stop and go explosive sport where you might rest 2 mins between shifts? I train my players to go like a bat out of hell for 45 secs, then recuperate. I like them to have great HR recovery. I would liken it to running HR up to 160-170 and being able to get it back down to 90-100 in 2 mins. It’s been proven that high VO2 max doesn’t necessarily tell the whole story when it comes to measuring fitness. Back when the Russians were dominating hockey, their VO2 max on average was 10 pts lower than Americans, but the USA felt that the players needed a 65 VO2 max to beat the Russians.
That is the brilliance of Charlie’s sequencing for sports performance. He was the first to understand this relationship. Work on your aerobic power on off days. This will help recovery and your ability to recover your heart rate.
Instead of mixing the two and training unnecessary systems and ruining the intended training effect.
Extensive work can be sport specific.
I understand that for people here some S&C in soccer (at the highest level) might be crap.
But hold on one second.
Let’s say C. Ronaldo or Drogba or Rooney etc. are not properly implementing a periodization scheme/strength training etc., BUT, despite the allegedly awful S&C they are somehow able to score, let’s say, 30-40 goals each season.
Now, if I were their S&C coach, I would say something along the line of “do exactly what you did last year”, because I’ve got the impression it’s working.
As for soccer players being not physically/athletically developed, I think it’s a thing of the past. Mow matches are very fast and physical and the greatest difference between lower and higher level players is the physical component.
I was wondering how some of the teams such AC milan train their athletes. They are very holistic in their approach. I was wondering how much weight training they do. Does anyone have any their workouts?
Would anyone happen to know if prolonged endurance work has the same/similair ability of trashing the CNS like heavy lifting would?. Just like lifting, would the CNS need to adapt to endurance work?.
From what I can see, Rooney has been hurt nearly every year for the past few. He just got the the “100%” for the world cup last week. I have also noticed since 2006 a few notables on the English national squad have has fairly severe injuries. Maybe those who follow this more closely can comment.
For most of these guys, their performance training should have a focus of prolonging their careers, more so than improving performance. Younger guys are a different breed as they need the increased performance.
A guy like Rooney who makes close to 200,000 pounds a week needs to be healthy. A few years of injury plagued seasons and he’ll end up on the cover of gossip magazines naked in bed with transvestites.
It is always common to hear arguments about how athletes must be following the right training program because they are the scoring leaders, winning championships or receiving accolades. We also hear that they don’t follow a proper training program or have poor training habits, and people still say, “Well that works for him.”
As professionals in our field, we should always be advocating for doing the best we can for athletes regardless of their results. Athletes - no matter what their level of achievement - can always be doing something better. If the results cannot be seen immediately, it may take the form of longevity or injury avoidance over the long term.
Exactly my point! 
Guys,
it’ also my point.
At the same time I’ve got the impression that a lot of S&C coaches has little respect for what others are doing. If I’m not wrong, the S&C at Manchester was the Italian Valter di Salvo. According to wikipedia:
“Di Salvo bases much of his training sessions around the gym and technical exercises, rather than outdoors work, according to a ManUtd.com interview with Paul Scholes. This approach was criticised by former Manchester United midfielder David Beckham, blaming Di Salvo’s methods for his lack of fitness and stamina at Euro 2004”.
Pakewi is still the scientific advisor for Fiorentina, if I’m not wrong. Are they all incompetent? Now, I’m the first to say that there are more than some, but I also watch a lot of teams fit just right for what they have to do, i.e. winning soccer matches.
Let’s take Inter. Have you watched the last matches in Champions’ League? Did you have the impression that they had a wrong preparation? I did not.
ESTI, Rooney injured his ankle. I saw the match, too.
Rooney’s injury history
2004
broken metatarsal, rt foot
2006
broken metatarsal, rt foot
2007
broken metatarsal, left foot
2010
rt “ankle injury”
Groin
Michael Owen’s injury history
2005 broken metatarsal
march 2006: tightens screw for foot
May 2006: concussion
June 2006: injures knee, out entire season
July 2007: thigh injury
September 2007: groin injury
November 2007: thigh strain
2009: cracked ankle bone
March 2010: torn hamstring
Under his newcastle contract, he was making a reported 110,000 pounds a week
Joe cole.
September 08 concussion
Sept 2008: torn muscle
Nov 2008: torn muscle
Jan 2009: cruciate rupture
Joe’s salary in 2008-9
1st = Monthly Salary 2nd = Annual Salary 3rd = Weekly Salary
46) Joe Cole Chelsea FC
383,000 4,600,000 85,000
Here are three top guys with a long history of injuries and high salaries. Who ever is working with these guys, or lack their of, is quite obvious, needs some work.
if his chronic foot and ankle problems were the root cause of last years back injury and this years glute. It’s always something in the kinetic chain going due to foot and ankle issues. Although some injuries are acute in their onset, it often is the result of improper training, lack of flexibility training and tissue work. The first thing I tell parents of clients is that my job is injury prevention first and performance second. Knock on wood, but I have only had one bad injury in close to 20 years. Non contact ACL. ESTI rehabbed him.
ACL tears in the US are still rampant. I am beginning to feel this new turf is trouble when used with long spikes. The spikes are just as sticky as the old turf shoes. I think nubs on the new turf is a must. I also have heard this is trend in NFL as well.
Reminds me of the time I was trying to turn my truck on an icy road. I turned the wheel but kept going straight. When the tires bit actual concrete, the truck jerked and the tie rods snapped. Same thing with ACLs and turf.