But before you head off to do sit-ups and crunch, true core stability comes from mixing in some unstable exercises to your training regime. This means squatting on a Bosu-ball, using a T-bar for single-leg Romanian deadlift or getting on a TRX for some plank jacks, all of which will test your core and improve your stability when jostling for the ball. Ignore strength training at your peril. Advances in sports science have awoken the soccer world to the positive effects of disciplines like Olympic lifting and general resistance training.
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.
