• Home
    • About
    • Contact
  • Archives
  • Track & Field
    • 400 meters
    • 800m & Mile
    • 1/2 & Full Marathons
    • Long & Triple Jump
    • Hurdles
  • Training
    • Weight Training
    • Abs & Core
    • Injury Prevention
    • Shoes & Spikes
    • Masters
  • Coaching
    • Freelap Friday Five
    • Interviews
    • Sport Psychology
    • Sports Nutrition
  • STORE

SpeedEndurance.com

Success in Track & Field ... and Life

6
SHARES
FacebookTwitter

Why Soccer Speed Matters

March 19, 2011 by Jimson Lee 1 Comment

This article is guest blogged by Jonas Forsberg of YouthSoccerSpeed.com

The biggest problem today when it comes to soccer speed is probably the lack of understanding on how to improve it, and actually, the fact that you can improve it. The biggest myth when it comes to speed training in general today is the fact that people still believe, in the year of 2010, that speed is something you can’t improve – you either have it or you don’t.

The fact that it does have to do with genetics is true, and if you don’t have good genetics then you probably will never win the gold medal on 100 meters, but that ain’t what soccer is all about.

So what is soccer speed all about, and why does it matter?

First and foremost, soccer speed is not purely about linear acceleration, it’s about so much more than that. Research has shown that 10-30 meters is the most commonly covered distance in soccer before a player have to change a direction. There’s a change in movement every 2-5 seconds.

With that being said, linear acceleration does matter, but it is probably a player’s first 10-15 meters that are most important, and after that their ability to decelerate/change a direction and then re-accelerate is what truly matters.

A players first 10-15 meters can be improved A LOT, as well as their ability to decelerate and change a direction. Most of these qualities involve training, and not just genetics.

The famous sprint coach Charlie Francis says in his fantastic book "The Charlie Francis Training System":

"It can be argued that most sprinters are "un-made" rather than "made", due to inappropriate training during their initial development.

A common example of the result of inappropriate training is the conversion of the transitional muscle fibre of a young athlete to red endurance fibre rather than white fast-twitch fibre due to inappropriate volumes of endurance training.

As a result of such inadequate training knowledge ultimate performance capabilities of the athlete are limited by the early training he or she undergoes. That’s very interesting. Basically, what he’s saying is that improper training probably is the biggest reason an athlete doesn’t get faster. Inappropriate training during their initial development is what matters.

So for once and for all, stop blaming genetics, especially if you play soccer and hope to improve soccer speed. Some people argue that the reason soccer is being played at a higher tempo today then it was 15 years ago is due to the players way of handling the ball and playing more one-touch soccer.

That is certainly true, but far from the whole story. What you do with the soccer ball matters, but what about the rest of the game where you don’t have the ball in your possession.

Do you have to get to the ball before you opponent? I definitely think that’s an important quality and advantage you as a soccer player need to possess.

Soccer speed does matter because at the end of the day, if you can’t out-run your opponent, you won’t get to the ball before him. And in order to do that, you don’t have to be faster than him on 60 meters, but rather on the first 10-15 meters, or you might be better than him at decelerating and then picking up the pace again.

So don’t just work on running 50 meter sprints, look at what the science is telling you about the game of soccer and work on those qualities. It will make a difference at the end of the day!

About The Author

Jonas Forsberg is a Swedish Soccer Speed Coach who helps soccer players improve their soccer specific speed. Visit YouthSoccerSpeed.com and get the mini-course Truth About Soccer Speed!

  • Bio
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Latest Posts
Jimson Lee

Jimson Lee

Coach & Founder at SpeedEndurance.com
I am a Masters Athlete and Coach currently based in London UK. My other projects include the Bud Winter Foundation, writer for the IAAF New Studies in Athletics Journal (NSA) and a member of the Track & Field Writers of America.
Jimson Lee

@speedendurance

Jimson Lee
Jimson Lee

+Jimson Lee

Jimson Lee
Jimson Lee

Jimson Lee

Jimson Lee

Latest posts by Jimson Lee (see all)

  • SpeedEndurance TV – Back to the Basics of Speed - January 17, 2018
  • How fast do CrossFit’ers run 400m? - January 15, 2018
  • Sleep Patterns with the FitBit Alta and FitBit Alta+HR - January 15, 2018
Jimson Lee

Related

Filed Under: 40 Yard Dash, Soccer Tagged With: Jonas Forsberg

Gymboss Timers
Google+ comment widget by skipser
  • martzia says:
    September 17, 2013 at 10:20 pm

    i am i soccer and i am very fast my coach says but my family has no fast runners besides my great great uncle was very fast and also in soccer so this helped me to know why i need to be a fast runner thx

    Reply
  • Follow Us

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Google+
    • Linkedin
    • RSS
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
    Click here for  Globus Electrical Muscle Stimulation units & info

    RECENT POSTS

    • SpeedEndurance TV – Back to the Basics of Speed
    • How fast do CrossFit’ers run 400m?
    • Sleep Patterns with the FitBit Alta and FitBit Alta+HR
    • Sprinting Technique: The Key to Increasing your Speed
    • Using a Sprinter’s Breath Hold to Improve Performance
    • How to Lose Weight with the 4S Approach
    • 4 Top Strength Training Type Workouts for Increased Speed
    • 400 Meter Training – A Scientific Approach
    • The Secret to a Good Night Sleep is Knowing your Sleep Patterns
    • Sprinting: 10 Research Articles for Effective Sprint Training [Part 19]

    SEARCH OR LOOKUP BY CATEGORY

    FIND US ON FACEBOOK

    FIND US ON FACEBOOK

    Follow me on Twitter

    My Tweets

    SpeedEndurance TV

    https://www.youtube.com/user/speedendurance/

    About Me

    Online since 2002, with the addition of the Blog in 2007, SpeedEndurance.com is the book I never wrote with 2000+ articles.
    I am a former 200m/400m sprinter, a Masters Athlete and Coach, who has lived in Canada, US, Italy, and now resides in London UK. My other projects include the Bud Winter Foundation, writer for the IAAF New Studies in Athletics Journal (NSA), and a member of the Track & Field Writers of America.

    30 Day Free Coaching Program

    30 Day Free Coaching Program
    Sign up for this Program and you will receive an email every day for the next 30 days with links to over 60 manuals!
    Contributors include Clyde Hart, Tom Tellez, Dan Pfaff, Loren Seagrave, Don Chu, plus my free 36 page report on Jamaican Sprint Secrets, with insights to Stephen Francis and Glen Mills

    Now Available!

    Bud Winter's updated 1963 classic "Rocket Sprint Start" is now available.
    The original book with Armin Hary and Dennis Johnson remains intact with an all new update using comparisons with Jamaican Sprinters.
    A must read for anyone who coaches events that uses Starting Blocks.
    Copyright © 2018. SpeedEndurance.com is owned and operated by Aryta Ltd.
    Get FREE Coaching manuals here! Clyde Hart's 60 Page 400 meter training, Stephen Francis, Glen Mills, Tom Tellez, and more!

    Sign up for the FREE monthly Newsletter today and receive Clyde Hart's new 60 page manual on Sprints and Relays AND the 36 page Jamaican Sprint Secrets with insights to Stephen Francis and Glen Mills... the coaches of Asafa Powell & Usain Bolt!.

    You'll also get coaching manuals from Tom Tellez, Loren Seagrave and Dan Pfaff.

    Want more? How about Lee Evans famous "Train with Pain" 400 meter training from Stan Dowell?

    We respect your email privacy

    Open Close
    Podcast powered by podPress v8.8.10.17