Speed Training

Often questions arise about what is the best choice for soccer fitness test. No perfect answer exists and will depend on the level of your team and what your goals are.Several questions must be answered prior to choosing a test or test battery.   

Perform this lift to increase the amount of power you generate on the soccer field.  

I believe sled training to be the most important factor in developing speed & acceleration. That is because it is a combination of both running drills and weight room exercises. As I've said in my previous articles during speed month, your ability to generate explosive acceleration in your sprints relies on your ability to generate force from the ground. But what is important is the specific manner in which you do it. 

If you want to improve your acceleration on the field, perform hip drive series drills on the wall. This is a pretty common drill amongst track athletes, but I sincerely believe that this drill can be very effective for soccer players. The fact of the matter is that in order to develop incredible acceleration on the field, you need to be able to generate enough force from the ground such that it propels you forward. That is why this drill is so important.

Since most sprints on the soccer field are an average of 20 to 25 yards, the soccer player should  focus more on explosion and acceleration. This is why I am a big fan of the lean and run drill. It is a very simple drill, but it is incredibly effective in teaching you how your body should be positioned when you are accelerating to the ball.