Rethinking Movement in Football: Why Players Aren’t Built for Straight Lines
Traditional testing and training methods often fail to reflect the specific demands of football movements. Many drills and assessments still lack biomechanical and contextual relevance to the sport. For example, most exercises emphasize linear, single-plane motions, which do not represent the multi-directional and reactive nature of football. Movement efficiency relies heavily on joint angles and […]
What Is the Current Situation Regarding Licensing of Fitness Coaches in European Football?
Introduction Previously there were no formal standardised requirements for those wanting to work as a fitness coach in European football. This meant that anybody could be employed by a club to work in this important role without any academic or practical qualifications, or even experience. This situation was not only undesirable, but also potentially dangerous. […]
Sprint Training in Service of Preventing Hamstring Injuries, Part 1
Introduction Hamstring injuries are among the most common in sports that involve sprinting, such as football. Achieving maximum speed is crucial not only for game performance but also for reducing the risk of hamstring injuries. Introducing sprint training into the competitive microcycle of football players is essential to minimize the risk of hamstring injuries and […]
Soccer Preseason: 6 Expert Insights for Peak Performance
The Importance of Preseason The preseason is a unique period in the football calendar due to its lack of competitive matches, which enables more intense and extensive training activities with the aim of improving motor and functional abilities. In other words, we have the luxury of progressive overloading various aspects of conditioning despite the fact […]
Two Paradigms in Training Session Design
Last month, I was having coffee with my coaching staff, and as usual, we were discussing football. You should see how deep these conversations can go. We talked about the methodology of constructing training sessions and touched on two training methodologies that are widely used today: tactical periodization by Vítor Frade and structured training by […]
Running Technique – Energy Saver
Summary of Previous Blog Post Running plays a vital role in overall health, aiding in weight reduction and the development of functional abilities. For beginners, it’s essential to start gradually to avoid injuries and overexertion. Selecting the right footwear and clothing, which should be both comfortable and functional, is crucial for an effective running experience. […]
Use “Hidden Testing” to Improve Your Warm-ups
We explored soccer testing in a UEFA conditioning course, focusing on efficient ways to integrate testing methods like LESS, CMAS, and S-MAS into training to improve performance and reduce injury risk.
Self-testing for Accurate Data Input: Focus on the Spine
In the first part of our series on self-testing for accurate data input, we will explore the importance of testing and monitoring the spine health in athletes. As the spine plays a crucial role in sports activities, it is important to educate, raise awareness and understand how to properly test and track its health. The […]
Enhancing Performance: Leveraging Ultrax Technology in a Team Sports Environment
Understanding the Multifaced Nature of Performance Enhancement In the dynamic world of team sports, achieving peak performance is a multifaceted endeavor that requires precise planning, precise execution, and effective collaboration among various stakeholders (Bompa & Haff, 2009). Sports entities, such as football clubs, face a myriad of challenges in managing player performance, optimizing training strategies, […]
