Fitness and Diet

Fitter teams win more games – it’s as simple as that. Of course, we know that most clubs will not have a fitness trainer or a well-equipped gym. But there is a lot you can do yourself. The drills in this section look at how you can help your players to get fit, stay fit, avoid injury and recover more quickly. How many times have you seen a close game decided in the last 10 minutes because one team is fit and the other is running out of energy?

Pre-match nutrition: how important is it?

in Fitness and Diet

Research suggests the precise composition of pre-training or pre-match meals may be less crucial than was previously thought, says ANDREW HAMILTON MORE

I pulled a muscle by not warming up

in Email newsletters, Fitness and Diet

I keep fit pretty much all year round due to being outside coaching most of the time. And with the enforced lay off in the UK due to the coronavirus pandemic I've been keeping myself fit in other ways. However, being fit and having muscles ready to play sport is on a different planet. MORE

Simple fitness drills for all ages

in Email newsletters, Fitness and Diet

During lockdown or anytime you find you cannot get your team to training for a period of time you should make sure they are doing things to keep fit. They need things that they will find are fun and things that they will want to do because it is a competition. Without matches they are missing that competitive edge and that will add to their boredom when they cannot get out and play. MORE

Pre-season: fit to play

in Email newsletters, Fitness and Diet

It's been a long lay-off for some of us and getting back into shape for the season ahead is an important part of coaching preparation. And not just for you the coach. This week I have been coaching at clinics for teams to get them back into playing contact games before they go to play friendly matches. MORE

Get fast footwork with agility ladder drills

in Ball Control and Footwork, Fitness and Diet

Agility ladders are great ways to get youth players getting their feet ready for ball skills, warming up ankles helping prevent injuries. Also great to use when you're on your own... MORE

Coaches and kids keep fit at home

in Email newsletters, Fitness and Diet

Okay I'm not going to use the bored word here... not yet anyway! I enjoy plenty of exercise even though it is either in my front room or in the garden. I don't want to get like Pep Guardiola said "a little bit fatter!" MORE

Pre-season: staying fit

in Email newsletters, Fitness and Diet, Pre-season

Don't just dig out your boot bag the day before training is due to start and polish your boots... there's more to getting ready for the new season than that. Map out your pre-season fitness blueprint for you and your players. MORE

Work on your pre-season at the beach

in Fitness and Diet, Pre-season

You don't have to be on a football pitch to start your pre-season – players and coaches alike can be a bit creative at the beach and set themselves some targets for the holidays. So put sunbathing on hold get yourself in shape for the coming season! MORE

Get in shape before pre-season

in Email newsletters, Fitness and Diet

Coaches and players alike will be planning for pre-season over the summer months – it is good practice to prepare yourself and your players for the physical push towards the new season. MORE

How to coach football fitness drills- part 1

Fit 4 football

in Advanced Skills, Fitness and Diet, Practice plans

Improving your team’s fitness in the pre-season period could be the key to a winning start. These practices aim to develop fitness through the use of a range of movements, changes of speed and the use of smallsided games. MORE

Cook yourself a soccer diet

in Fitness and Diet, Tips and advice

If you ask a budding footballer these days what they focus the most on, to reach the top of their game, you will hear most talk about hard work, training and exercise, but it is very rare to find a young player mention MORE

Fit for the new season

in Email newsletters, Fitness and Diet, Tips and advice

Getting and staying fit for the first part of the new season is vital to a successful coaching strategy. If your players are not fit enough to play the way you want it is a pointless beginning to your campaign. Here are 6 activities to help you. MORE

Sprint to it

in Core Skills, Fitness and Diet, Practice plans

Increasing the sprinting speed of your team will have them reaching the ball faster than their opponents all over the field and can change the outcome of a match. MORE

Five minute fitness – moon walking

in Fitness and Diet, Tips and advice

This five minute fitness drill can be used during your training sessions for a quick break to help coaching points sink in, or as an incentive for a drinks break. Great for stretching calves. MORE

Quick Coach – Agility square

in Fitness and Diet, Return to play, Warm Ups

Get brains and muscles into gear with this quick warm-up for training. It works on movement, agility and vision. MORE

Stay fit in the off-season with these 6 drills

in Email newsletters, Fitness and Diet, Tips and advice

Staying fit in the off-season is vital for players and coaches alike. Although the temptation might be to go on holiday and forget about fitness for a while, it's important to stay in good shape so that you're ready for pre-season training. MORE

4 ways to kick start your team’s performance

in Email newsletters, Fitness and Diet, Warm Ups

The benefits of a dynamic workout to your team to get them ready to play a match cannot be ignored. Young players have to give their muscles a range of dynamic and progressive movements to prepare them for the game. If they don’t you’ll be risking them getting a injury when the game starts. Warm... MORE