Seeing first hand the caliber of sports people at the top level of soccer makes me think about whether working with Premier League or Champions League is the pinnacle of world team sports. Is it?
I would say yes in terms of player managements, skills coaches and even on the medical staff, it’s not such a clear decision on the strength and conditioning side of the equation. Players make it to the top in soccer after playing for 10-15 years in their home towns. They arrive to Europe’s top clubs skilful and often already rich from their first contract. Physical preparation training is rarely a big part of how players earn their success.
The Premier League is made up of predominantly ready-made players that need to be maintained fit and ready to endure marathon league seasons plus international and cup fixtures. This becomes the principle aim of the S&C coach. Keep guys fit. Great job? Sure, but a dream job?
I believe most soccer players lack strength. Any athletics or strength and conditioning coach worth his hat knows that acceleration is about ability to overcome inertia, body weight. In soccer most guys struggle to lift a broomstick and thus can’t “dominate their body weight enough to really move. There is no doubting their co-ordination skill, vision and decision making but when it comes to having the strength to really move they’re way behind all other elite sports!
Could strength training revolutionise soccer? World renowned strength coach Charles Poliquin says soccer looks like “A bunch of carebears on valium.” I agree with him that lots of players could improve their strength and power which would improve their acceleration, deceleration, agility, jumping ability and speed. I would love to have the chance to do that. On the other side of the coin the role of skill, vision, team play and decision making are so large that just making a guy faster may make a small difference to their value as a player. The most naturally gifted athletes are the ones who make it to the top I don’t doubt that they would be better if they spent more time on resistance (force) training. Maybe the biggest difference could be made in working with skilful young players who are going to miss out on their dreams because of poor physical attributes.
Working with an academy of 13-17 year old kids in Latin America or Africa or even with some of Europe’s brightest and would be an amazing opportunity and one that I would jump at, especially if I was going to see 5% of their wage when they hit the professional ranks!! I’m confident that I would have great success with the role if the opportunity arises.
This guy can accelerate and change direction.. but can he play?
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