Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): Stregnth (strikers and defenders)

15mins (20 mins)

Attacking headers

Organisation

Players: 6

Area: 6, 5 x 5-meter box's

time: 15 minutes

Equipment: balls and bibs

Work to rest ratio: 1:3

Timeline of session

- There are 3 players taking part in this session at any given time.

- One player throwing the ball into the box opposite and the player in the same colour bib as the one throwing the ball will be the one shielding off the defender and heading the ball.

- The other player will be applying pressure to the attacking player heading the ball without competing.

- They will do this for 5 minutes and then rotate.

Condition - the defender will be able to compete for the ball as well

Progression - the attacker will start behind the defender and must use strength and reactions to get in front and win the header.

rationale

I set this session out to solely improve and develop on the aspects of strength and strength within football, while also covering the technical and tactical attributes for a striker and defender for football in general and in game scenarios. The definition of strength with in sport is “the ability to carry out work against a resistance. Strength is the maximal force you can apply against a load. Training to improve muscle strength includes lifting weights or otherwise increasing the resistance against which you work”. Robert Wood (2010). It is very hard to be able to train and develop strength within a football session, so what I had to do is make the session around scenarios within football where strength would be used.

In my first session, I focused on attacking headers and how strength can be used to put yourself into a better heading position and give yourself more chance of winning the areal duels. In my second session, I focused on hold up play for the strikers where it is important to use strength to shield the ball from the defender. Many great football players use this attribute within their game.

Strength is important within football “The benefit of strength and strength training for footballers is well supported by research. For example, De Proft and colleagues had one group of Belgian professionals perform extra weight training during the season. Compared to a control group of colleagues who did no extra training, the players improved their kicking power and leg strength. Reilly (1990) showed that the stronger players outlasted the weaker players in terms of a regular place in the team, and had reduced injury risks. He recommends that leg strength is developed, especially in the quadriceps and hamstrings, to help stabilise the knee joint, which is the most frequently injured joint in football. Apor (1998)” as shown by BrianMac Sports Coach (2017). I personally believe that strength within football is important to be able to play a certain style in some positions. Positions such as a target man striker, as you will need to be able to hold up the ball and shield it and a centre back as they will need to be able to win areal duels.

BrianMac Sports Coach (2017). Strength Training for Football Players, Available at: https://www.brianmac.co.uk/football/strength.htm (accessed: 08/01/17)

Robert Wood (2010), Fitness and Strength. Access Date (07/01/17), Webpage URL: http://www.topendsports.com/fitness/strength.htm