Athletic speed in soccer
Athletic speed is needed in most sports. But it requires special attention gain speed.
By Zuriel Z Lozano, international goalkeeper coach MS in Sport Health & science. Certified by The National Academy Of Sport Medicine. UEFA license, Speaker, Mental trainer
Athletic speed in soccer is simply vital. In soccer most positions, to include goalkeepers, must have speed. Soccer players have to move across the field or across the goal with tremendous speed in the modern game. However, majority of these athletes lack athletic speed.
The biggest reason for the lack of athletic speed is mainly due to the type of training they are currently receiving. Most of the training offered for goalkeepers or field players in soccer is what we called a “ROBOTIC & heavily STRUCTURALIZED training”.
However, there are other factors why some players lack athletic speed such as genetics, body types & congenital disorders. In addition, there are athletes who simply will not put out the same level of energy as other athletes who are committed to working hard.
Comfort Zone
Most trainings in soccer such as goalkeeping training are all executed within their comfort zone. This is great idea if you are teaching goalkeepers in soccer how to catch, dive, smother, footwork ect. But to gain athletic speed, the athlete must learn to train out of the comfort zone.
“There is no secret or formulas on athletic speed. To gain speed, you need to train at the same or higher speed you wish to accomplish”
Few reasons why you are slow.
The biggest reason for lack of athletic speed is your training. As we discussed before, training within a comfortable zone is helpful while you are learning a new technique, move, play or drill. However, if you stay in this comfortable zone you will NOT reach the athletic speed you want.
For example, if you want to be a lead guitarist then you will first learn the basic notes of a certain song. However, if you want to “shred it on stage” and put on a show then you must learn how to play a lead part with greater speed to impress the crowds.
Goalkeeper comfort zone. The zone where most goalkeepers are taught the basics. However, most goals are scored outside the comfortable zone.
Training faster
The same goes about athletic speed. If you want to increase your speed during, your training has to match the speed you want to accomplish. Unfortunately, most soccer training or goalkeeper trainings are very basic. There is no real learning that occurs in some trainings, it more like “just doing drills”.
Get stronger
Furthermore, to have athletic speed you must get stronger, strength training is a must. Power & speed comes from the force output your body can generate. But if you are not strong enough then your body will not be able to generate the power output it requires to get the desired athletic speed.
This doesn’t mean that you will get a 9 year old child into a full-time strength training program with a private coach, that’s called CRAZY. However, older athletes may benefit from a strength program which can benefit them in many areas besides athletic speed. Such as injury prevention, balance, fitness etc.
In conclusion, to gain athletic speed you must avoid trainings that are monotonous or so repetitive that becomes boring. Your body is an incredible machine that needs to be taught to move a certain way. Therefore, don’t fall in the mistake to do what is comfortable all the time. Instead, search for a training program that can elevate your mind, skill and your athletic speed.
Leave A Comment