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What is Soccer Endurance Training?

Alex Paul
Alex Paul

To play soccer to a high level requires skill but also fitness and endurance. A soccer player must have the ability to perform at close to his or her maximum for the entire game, which runs continuously with just a halftime break for anywhere from 50 minutes to 90 minutes depending on the age group. For this reason soccer endurance training is an important part of any conditioning routine as it increases the ability of an athlete to exercise for long periods of time. Soccer fitness drills include long-distance running, shuttle runs and circuit training.

A soccer player needs two types of fitness — endurance and anaerobic. Endurance training allows the athlete to play for a long period of time. Anaerobic exercise provides the ability for short and fast sprints. Both types of fitness are important for soccer and need to be approached in different ways. Anaerobic fitness, for example, is usually improved through using exercises that require short sprints followed by a short period of recovery.

Sprinting is a common part of conditioning drills.
Sprinting is a common part of conditioning drills.

To achieve a high level of endurance requires more than extended sessions of jogging or fast walking. Soccer endurance training usually focuses on mimicking the fitness required for a competitive game. For example, a soccer player on average will spend only around a sixth of the game sprinting. Far more time is spent either jogging on running. Soccer endurance training, therefore, should usually spread out exercise in a similar fashion.

Soccer can be a very physically demanding sport.
Soccer can be a very physically demanding sport.

An example of a soccer endurance training routine may include a mixture of jogging, sprinting and other activities that are used during a competitive game. Cycling or swimming are not commonly used because they don’t focus on the same muscles that are required for soccer. For an endurance routine to be successful the athlete must be taken out of his or her comfort zone while not being pushed to a level that puts a high amount of strain on the muscles. Recovery time is an important part of any soccer endurance training session as it allows time for the muscles to recuperate.

Soccer endurance training often includes jogging.
Soccer endurance training often includes jogging.

The muscle endurance of an athlete affects how able he or she is to supply maximum force from a muscle over a period of time. For this reason a soccer player who has low endurance will find that they become slower during the course of a game due to the fact that his or her muscles are no longer able to provide as much force. The athlete may also have a reduced kicking strength. An endurance routine will usually involve ball control drills for this reason.

Discussion Comments

tigers88

I find that running up hills is good training for soccer. The incline taxes your body differently and it builds both strength and endurance.

Also, soccer speed training can add to your endurance as well. Many of the exercises that boost speed will also help you to go harder for longer.

nextcorrea

Endurance should be a feature of any soccer training program. I think the best way to train for endurance is to do interval running. You run at various speeds for various amounts of time.

You might run at a high speed for 30 second and then a moderate speed for a minute and then back to sprinting all without stopping. This recreates the conditions you actually face in the game so it builds up practical endurance. You train just like you would play.

jonrss

There are all sorts of different methods for speed and agility training. Strangely, there are not as many for straight up endurance. And, as any soccer player will tell you, endurance is crucial for performing well on the field. It is often the team that is better conditioned that wins.

But there are some training methods that have been developed and you can find them online pretty easily. It is worth it to make a go of a routine. You will be surprised how much it improves your game.

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    • Sprinting is a common part of conditioning drills.
      By: berc
      Sprinting is a common part of conditioning drills.
    • Soccer can be a very physically demanding sport.
      By: pressmaster
      Soccer can be a very physically demanding sport.
    • Soccer endurance training often includes jogging.
      By: Ariwasabi
      Soccer endurance training often includes jogging.
    • A soccer player spends a majority of the game running or jogging, with occasional bursts of sprinting.
      By: Amy Myers
      A soccer player spends a majority of the game running or jogging, with occasional bursts of sprinting.
    • Sprints can improve speed and agility, which is critical for sports such as soccer.
      By: bonninturina
      Sprints can improve speed and agility, which is critical for sports such as soccer.