Coordination while reacting to what is happening on the field and doing so without delay is the objective of agility training. The ability to move quickly and under control can make a difference in competition and should be a major part of soccer fitness. Many great players from Mia Hamm to Ralehendino have developed a great first step to accelerate past the competition or change direction without hesitation. Training these qualities will bring your game to new heights.
Agility training can be as simple as jumping rope or as involved as partner mirroring drills, but the focus is always the same to train at a fast rate, or game speed. Being able to "stop on a dime" requires developing game-speed intensity, functional strength, and balance, and controlling your center of gravity.
General Agility Training
Athletes in any sport can benefit from a quicker first step to gain an advantage when making the play. Good reaction time and the ability to stop and change direction quickly are also athletic qualities that aid in making the big play in competition. Agility training can help improve these skills.Agility training can be as simple as jumping rope or as involved as partner mirroring drills, but the focus is always the same to train at a fast rate, or game speed. Being able to "stop on a dime" requires developing game-speed intensity, functional strength, and balance, and controlling your center of gravity.
Soccer-Specific Agility Training
It is easy to see why the ability to move quickly, efficiently, and under control enhances soccer performance. A striker's ability to maneuver around and accelerate past the defender increases her chances of scoring goals. Likewise, a defender who must backtrack to pick up trouble at the goal or a keeper who must make a split-second decision to make a save can benefit from agility drills. This book focuses on learning basic footwork patterns, together with stopping mechanics and both programmable and reaction-type drills, to give you a jump start on soccer quickness.loading...
