Given the hectic demands of the modern game, sandwiching in training session after training session between games, you might imagine soccer players don’t have much time to recover. Behind the scenes, however, they leave plenty of time for rest. Recovery should be a big part of your training regime too and making sure you’re doing it properly could be stopping you hitting your peak fitness. Training to aid your body in its regeneration is vital. Foam rolling is especially good for preventing a build-up of fascia and reducing DOMS (delayed onset muscular soreness). You should also make sure that your nutrition is correct and take time to stretch post-match.
It’s important that football players train with the intent to transfer their gains to the field of play. This includes but is not limited to their strength, power, and speed improvements. If it doesn’t impact on-field performance it’s not helpful. Aim to design training sessions with exercises that mimic movements the sport requires. This is what makes an elite athlete. Training specificity is a determining factor in the results an athlete experiences. This part of a training program is often overlooked or undervalued. Training effects are very specific. If there are minor changes in an athlete’s performance during practice or games it can lead to decreased performance.
