Soccer Fitness & Nutrition

Soccer Fitness & Nutrition

Soccer is a game where you have to get full control over the ball by applying skills and techniques of the game. Fitness and nutrition are two important aspects of playing soccer. Soccer is not the game of kicking the ball in the net; it is the game where you have to maintain same speed and stamina throughout the duration of 90 minutes or more.

Think about the speed of Maradona, Pele or Gary Lineker. They have made history, and are considered as all time great soccer icons. Lev Yashin – former Russian goalkeeper had his own charisma and demonstrated ultimate flexibility to prevent the shots. From taking a long shot to bicycle-kick – fitness and flexibility are necessary to play soccer.

Fitness is necessary to develop speed, strength, stamina and skills. Regular practice and general workouts under the supervision of a coach will help you to build your muscle power and to understand soccer sense. Soccer clubs use fitness programs and help the players to realize optimum fitness levels. General fitness requires running with the ball and making variation in the speed, turning with the ball to sidetrack opponent’s player and quick dribbling, which is considered as an ultimate outcome of soccer fitness.      

In soccer, the fitness of a player has close relation with the position where he/she is playing. As a defender, midfielder, forward or goalkeeper your fitness training will vary. While speed and stamina are primary requirements for a forward or midfielder, flexibility, on the other hand is required for a goalkeeper. Apart from speed, strength is required for defenders.

Soccer – the game of running with a ball, dribbling opponent’s defense and taking the shot at the goal requires both aerobic and anaerobic fitness. Aerobic fitness decides the energy level that is required to perform a task. Soccer players take aerobic training to develop the strength of their heart and lungs. For strikers and midfielders anaerobic fitness requires more than goalkeepers. Anaerobic fitness is required where fast movement and quick activity is on demand. This training helps soccer players to remove lactic acid from their muscle and keep the muscles active throughout the game.