Effects of Strength, Speed and Non-Specific Resistance Training on FVP Profile
Introduction Soccer is a physically demanding sport that requires a combination of aerobic and anaerobic fitness. Soccer players need to sprint, accelerate quickly, and change direction to beat their opponents (Taylor et al., 2004, 2017). High-speed running (HSR) (> 19.8 km/h -1) and sprinting (> 25.1 km/h -1) distance is positively associated with the number […]
The Neuroscience of Football: Unlocking Mastery, Creativity, and Peak Performance
Introduction Every footballer knows the routine: countless hours spent on the training ground, honing techniques, refining strategies, and preparing for the intensity of match day. Yet, beneath every well-timed pass, perfectly weighted through-ball, or audacious dribble lies something much deeper than raw athleticism. These moments of brilliance are the culmination of a complex and dynamic […]
Physical Development of Young Athletes: Balance Between 3 Important Things in Training
Introduction In today’s society, many issues face young athletes. Sport participation can be a countermeasure to a sedentary lifestyle which is clearly prevalent and dangerous. Often, individuals experience failed attempts to participate in organized physical development because too much emphasis is placed on competition, with little attention on developing proper athleticism (appropriate movement skills). Individuals […]
Sprint Training in the Service of Reducing Hamstring Injuries, Part 2
Integration of Maximum Speed into the Weekly Microcycle To manage workload in weekly microcycles, it is necessary to find an adequate workload dose that promotes positive physical adaptations without increasing the risk of injury. Regardless of the chosen methodology, it is essential to achieve a balance where the highest workload occurs on days furthest from […]
Maximizing the First 15 Minutes in Football Warm Up: Examples From My Teams
In team sports like football, Strength & Conditioning (S&C) coaches typically have the first 15 minutes of a session to work directly with players. At first glance, 15 minutes may seem like too short a period to make an impact. However, when you multiply those 15 minutes by 7 days per week, 30 days per […]
Deceleration Assessment – Better Braking Makes you Faster
Introduction We all know how important acceleration, speed, and change of direction are for achieving top performance on the football field. Football is a multidirectional speed sport, and one aspect that has only been extensively researched in recent years is deceleration. Let’s go through what deceleration is, how and when it manifests in a football […]
Pre-season Assessments and Monitoring: Are Returning Athletes “Strong Enough” to Run Fast?
Alex Natera is Manager of Performance Support at the New South Wales Institute of Sport, where he oversees a department of 40 world-class practitioners across Strength and Conditioning, Physiology, Psychology, Nutrition, Biomechanics and Performance Analysis disciplines. Alex’s background in Strength and Conditioning spans nearly 25 years in professional sports and National institutes of sport across […]
Tracking Success: How GPS Data Transforms Soccer Training
GPS tracking is transforming soccer training by providing detailed insights into player performance. This study analyzes data from youth Croatian National Soccer Teams to uncover patterns that optimize training efficiency and player safety. By applying clustering techniques and developing new metrics, key insights reveal how different training activities impact cardiovascular exertion, movement patterns, and intensity levels. Future research could refine injury prediction, enhance drill optimization, and improve training segmentation for better performance outcomes.
Embracing the Role of Sports Scientists: Translating Data into Action for Team Success
In today’s sports world, the role of the sports scientist has become crucial as teams and organizations face an influx of data – a “data tsunami.” Jo Clubb was a guest on the Inform Performance Podcast where she talked about the crucial role of sports scientists in today’s sports world and how to handle the […]
Positive Relationship of Trunk Movements and Acceleration
The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between trunk movements and whole-body acceleration, velocity and performance time during an all-out 20 m sprint test. This study encompassed 21 male top level football players. The participants were equipped with a Catapult OptimEyeX4 device that included a GPS sensor, an accelerometer and a gyroscope. […]
