| No. On days when he doesn't play soccer, he plays tennis. He also does strength training with DH. There is only so much time in the day to put towards physical fitness and sports, schoolwork and an instrument are musts in our household as well. |
Soccer players have great cardio. Once I finished soccer at 22, I was running marathons and teaching Spin after work. I am in my 50s and still never tire out. I did an ultra marathon too. I credit all those years running in soccer. We did a serious amount of fitness on my team growing up. What my teen boys do isn't anywhere close. I started drilling it home about what they needed to do on their own if they wanted to be at the top---if they didn't care about the level--no biggie. But, if they want to play at the level they say they want to, I am very realistic about what that entails in fitness and outside training of their own initiative. |
Or you can just answer OPs question of did your kid's coach require additional running outside of practice. Noone really cares what you actually do with your time. This is more about coaches making it a requirement. |
| Coach doesn’t require anything. My kid does a couple miles a few times a week, her choice. |
| i take my 9y/o out on the track ~once a month to get her mile time. it has been steadily improving. |
| Anyone can play hard for 10 minutes. As players progress in age and talent, it's a matter of who can play hard for 40 minutes. Running is really the only way to build that stamina. |
| OP here. This is all great that kids are working out side of training and all that. The question is....does your coach REQUIRE the TEAM to run outside of training days? That's the question. If yes, how much running does he ask the team to do and what level is your player? Thanks. |
No. That is a load of BS. Soccer is about sprints and jog, sprint and jog. Usually about 10 yard sprints. This is a lot different vs running at a consistent speed. You get into game shape through practice and games. At the travel level the difference between athleticism is what makes a difference. I have seen out of shape great athletes dominate on high school age travel teams. If you are training out side the team, it is individual skill work and strength/speed training. Unless you think your kid is already maxed out on skill and strength/speed? These things are done in the off season because they burn you legs out. |
| My kids do track during the summer, twice a week plus meets. |
Ummm. No for 90 min. On my National champion team, subs were rare. We played hard the full 90 min. Now with huge travel rosters to generate $$$$, it’s not as common (with exception of keeper abs some backs to play a full game). It does the players a disservice. |
Just saw your update. No, it is not required. But our coach was happily surprised when he heard they were doing it. |
Running at a constant speed for 40 minutes or whatever will increase your endurance, but it will make your top speed slower. Facts. |
Agree with this. And I'm a former soccer player that runs marathons now. We did lots of stair bleacher/running, sprints, plyos, jumps over gates, etc. lots and lots and lots of sprints. But, distance running (past a few miles) was not how it was done. Sprinting up stairs/bleachers is good for building speed. |
The answer is no. Coaches don’t require jack other than techne if they have that app. |
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And then they go to college and get cut.
Do you seriously think a college coach will be just fine with a kid that is not in good shape? No club coaches with 90 minute practices should be spending time on fitness. You do that on your own. There are a good many college fitness programs used for soccer on line. Look at them. Could your kid do them? And then do them again every day for 2 weeks? They also need to be working upper body. They don’t have to become powerlifters, but they should be able to bench their weight. |