Let me tell you that stretching is an vital part of soccer training tips and professional coaches highly recommend it along with almost every player in every sport practicing it daily? Soccer is a sport which is continuously growing and developing in its intricacy.
There are two types of stretching that can be incorporated in kid’s training for soccer; static and dynamic stretching.
Static stretching requires players to stretch their muscles to a point of resistance and hold for a given duration of time. Rebounding, rhythmic bouncing, and recurring motions are involved in dynamic stretching. It is generally considered as more dangerous and less effective than static stretching.
This article discusses some benefits of stretching that go a long way in making a good player great.
Stretching reduces injuries: Continuous stretching during the day and performed over a period of time may promote muscle growth that, consecutively, could reduce the risk of injury. Stretching also provides an effective way of enhancing the muscle size and strength.
Stretching influences flexibility: Stretching puts off the loss of flexibility. Nevertheless, stretching works best when performed for a greater length of time than for shorter periods of time.
Stretching for some minutes prior to any occasion is liable to improve flexibility. When it comes to soccer training tips, the best bet is to distribute a stretching program over a predetermined length of time to continuously increase the range of motion.
Stretching enhances performance: Player’s performance improves when stretching exercises are designed to be soccer specific.
Make sure that the kids enjoy stretching: Make stretching fun for the kids by including a variety of soccer drills into your session. Keep changing the type of warm up exercises that you perform before stretching. Try various activities like tag games, ball tag, and keep away.
Concentrate all your energy on stretching, experience and identify with each stretch while checking for soreness.
For almost all players, one single 15-30 minute stretch for each muscle group is sufficient but some may need longer stretches and more repetitions.
This is because when the temperature of muscles is higher than normal, tightness decreases and extensibility increases. Players who want to maintain or increase their flexibility can partly achieve this goal by stretching. It is better, safer, and more productive to do stretching exercises when the body temperature is higher than normal.
This is why some coaches tend to make their kids perform stretching exercises after a workout as well. Stretching for five minutes after practicing soccer skills prevents muscles from tightening too fast.
Usually, players who practice an active warm-up ahead of stretching get a superior range of motion than those kids who just stretch. So if injury prevention is your aim, stop stretching before exercise and increase the warm up time.
I again reiterate that the most important of all soccer training tips is to remember that hurried stretching does not help kids become flexible, gets monotonous and pointless, so let them take their own time to warm up before stretching. You can subscribe to our youth soccer coaching community and get your way to innumerable articles, videos, and periodic newsletters.
Andre Botelho is the author of “The Expert Youth Soccer Coaching Guide” and he’s a recognized expert in the subject of youth soccer coaching. Learn how to explode your players’ skills and make coaching sessions fun in less than 29 days! Download your free pdf guide at: Youth Soccer Drills.
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