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Over the past years, the SSO has posted several articles about neuromuscular training programs
designed to reduce the risk of injury. We have been especially concerned about preventing
non-contact injuries to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in female players. An ACL tear can be
personally devastating to the athlete and result in significant financial costs.
Talent identification in youth soccer is an ongoing debate among the coaching community. What
characteristics separate those players who will succeed at the next level from those who will
struggle? Factors such as physical size, speed, fitness and technical ability are all important
attributes of success.
A sound nutritional strategy is a critical component of any athletes training program.
Unfortunately, this is one aspect of a player's game that is often overlooked. Over the years,
research has examined the diets of both youth and professional male players (Click here for a
recent SSO article). However, very few studies have focused on female athletes.
There is little argument that peak performance in soccer requires a high level of fitness. Soccer
fitness includes a variety of components from cardiovascular fitness, strength, power and agility.
How to best improve these components is a question that is debated among coaches and trainers. On
the Science of Soccer Online, we have discussed the value of strength training (weight lifting),
As mentioned earlier on this site, hamstring injuries are one of the most common injuries in
soccer. Research says that they account for about 1 in 7 injuries. Depending on the severity of the
injury, recovery from a hamstring pull can take from a few days to several months. The re-injury
rate is also high with about 25% of players suffering a recurrent injury.
Pomegranates have been described as the new "super fruit". Their juice contains high levels of
polyphenols, which have powerful antioxidant effects. It is also high in vitamins A, C and E, high
in folic acid and potassium. Drinking pomegranate juice has been linked to several health benefits
including reduced risk of cancer, lowered blood pressure and improved blood cholesterol.
As the fall approaches, players begin preparing for the upcoming soccer season. Pre-season training
is a time to develop fitness, fine-tune technical skills and improve tactical abilities. It can be
a physically demanding time of the player's year. Unfortunately, it is also a time where injuries
can be a problem.
Playing a quality long ball is an important piece of the soccer performance puzzle. Goalkeepers,
defenders and midfielders routinely take free kicks and play direct balls where considerable
distance on the kick is needed. Add to that, the need for attackers to strike high-speed shots and
it is easy to see that kicking velocity and distance are critical to success.
Energy drinks such as Red Bull are becoming increasingly popular among young athletes. Energy
drink companies now sponsor many athletes and sports teams including New York Red Bull of Major
League Soccer. Thus, it is not surprising that many high school age players regularly drink one or
two servings of an energy drink prior to competition.
Teams typically begin each season with high expectations. The previous season's performance, new
player acquisitions and coaching changes raise anticipation of the upcoming campaign. Some these
expectations are realistic and some are not. As a result, as the season begins to play out, many
teams meet or exceed expectations but some some fail to live up to their perceived potential.
When a forward is one-on-one with a defender, cutting and faking is an integral part of creating a
scoring opportunity. In many cases, the forward fakes one direction then moves the ball in the
other before attempting a shot. A successful move frees the forward and allows him or her to
attempt a shot on goal.
More and more clubs, schools communities are installing artificial turf for their soccer fields.
The benefits are obvious in terms of maintenance and year-round use. However, one question that
keeps coming up is "are these fields safe for the players?" The concern is that players are at risk
of knee and ankle injuries by playing on the "plastic stuff".
Unfortunately injuries are far too common in the sport of soccer. In many cases, injuries are a
nagging inconvenience. In others, careers can be changed. In either case, injuries often have a
major influence on the outcome of the match. Monitoring the incidence and nature of injuries is
important. Innovations in training and equipment along with key rule changes are designed to reduce
the risk
Athletes are continually searching for an "edge" that will improve performance and lead to success
in the arena. Unfortunately some turn to illegal strategies including the use of anabolic
androgenic steroids (AAS). These compounds promote increase in muscle mass, strength and power.
However, the side effects of these compounds can be serious and include testicular atrophy, liver
disease,
Many exercise physiology texts suggest that adding a weight lifting program to endurance training
can diminish the cardiovascular and muscle adaptations needed to achieve a high level of fitness.
Likewise, adding aerobic exercises to a weight-training program are thought limit gains in strength
and power.
A common complaint of players who play on "play on plastic" is that they feel much more tired
compared to playing on natural grass. In fact, a study reviewed here (link) found that many players
have a negative perception of artificial turf. They feel that turf is was more physically taxing
and more technically demanding.
Anterior cruciate ligament injuries are all too common in competitive athletes. ACL ruptures are
usually followed by reconstruction surgery that is then followed by progressive rehabilitation that
may last up to 12 months. Depending on the extent of injury, most players can expect 6-12 months
before being cleared by a physician to return to their previous level of play.
