Playing, Practice, Training Playing, Practice, Training ––

How can we do it all?How can we do it all?

Presenter: Karla ThompsonPresenter: Karla Thompson

Director of Soccer OperationsDirector of Soccer Operations

Arizona Fury Soccer ClubArizona Fury Soccer Club

Karla ThompsonKarla Thompson

Director of Soccer OperationsDirector of Soccer Operations

USSF USSF ‘‘BB’’ LicenseLicense

National Youth LicenseNational Youth License

Arizona State Staff CoachArizona State Staff Coach

Former Region II Regional Staff CoachFormer Region II Regional Staff Coach

Former Collegiate Div. I CoachFormer Collegiate Div. I Coach

Club Director of Soccer OpsClub Director of Soccer Ops

Former Club Director of CoachingFormer Club Director of Coaching

# of players between ages 12# of players between ages 12--1818

Player participationPlayer participation

1974 1974 –– 100,000 registered players100,000 registered players

2007 2007 –– 3.2 million registered players3.2 million registered players

Approx. 1,100,000

Between the ages of 13Between the ages of 13--1717

Approximately 70% of soccer players Approximately 70% of soccer players quitquit

during these ages.during these ages.

Why?

Demands on TodayDemands on Today’’s Playerss Players

Club SoccerClub Soccer

High School SoccerHigh School Soccer

ODPODP

Private TrainingPrivate Training

Special Programs, Special Programs, ieie. . Speed & Agility, Speed & Agility, ““street soccerstreet soccer””, etc., etc.

Other High School sportsOther High School sports

How many days a week are your players training/playing?

Mission Statement for US Youth Mission Statement for US Youth

SoccerSoccer

US Youth Soccer is nonUS Youth Soccer is non--profit and profit and

educational organization whose mission is educational organization whose mission is

to foster the physical, mental and to foster the physical, mental and

emotional emotional growthgrowth and and developmentdevelopment of of

America's youth through the sport of America's youth through the sport of

soccer at all levels of age and competition. soccer at all levels of age and competition.

Are we accomplishing this mission?Are we accomplishing this mission?

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Player Development Player Development

“The process by which a player grows and matures

psychologically, technically, tactically and physically

within their soccer environment.”

Player Tactical

Psychological

Technical

Physical

PeriodizationPeriodization

Definition Definition –– ““Formal periodization is the systematic process Formal periodization is the systematic process of planned variations in the training program, changing of planned variations in the training program, changing volume, duration, intensity, mode, and kinds of recovery volume, duration, intensity, mode, and kinds of recovery in order to have enough variability toin order to have enough variability to reach areach a plateau, plateau, prevent overtraining and injury, and maximize prevent overtraining and injury, and maximize performance.performance.””

The underlying idea is not that tricky The underlying idea is not that tricky –– ““periodization is periodization is nothing more than basic coaching strategy applied to the nothing more than basic coaching strategy applied to the training process. Periodation is, in simple terms, A training process. Periodation is, in simple terms, A PLAN.PLAN.””

PeriodizationPeriodization

While most coaches have excellent While most coaches have excellent

knowledge of tactical considerations in knowledge of tactical considerations in

soccer training, few coaches have soccer training, few coaches have

knowledge of how to lay out different types knowledge of how to lay out different types

of training throughout the training week of training throughout the training week

and year so they produce optimal gains in and year so they produce optimal gains in

fitness and performance. This process is fitness and performance. This process is

commonly referred to as commonly referred to as periodizationperiodization..

The positioning of matches also has a large The positioning of matches also has a large

impact on the type of training used impact on the type of training used

because it is vital that players are as fresh because it is vital that players are as fresh

as possible come match day. as possible come match day.

“Failing to plan is planning to fail.”

-John Wooden

Match congestion can lead to physical and mental fatigue leading to underperformance.

By the time you add up all the league matches, cups, school

matches and tournaments, a player might be playing in 80-100

games a year.

Athletes that compete in 2 or more activities during a year haveAthletes that compete in 2 or more activities during a year have unique unique

physical and psychological needs which must be addressed in a physical and psychological needs which must be addressed in a

training program.training program.

Physical EffectsPhysical Effects

Player

Physical

Nutrition

Recovery

Balance

Strength

Power

Endurance

Speed

Flexibility

Agility

Psychological EffectsPsychological Effects

Player

Psychological

Emotions

Stress

Intellect

Commitment

Desire

Enjoyment

Effort

Persistence

Self Esteem

Relationships

Outside Influences

Part of the reason that high intensity aerobic sessions have thePart of the reason that high intensity aerobic sessions have the

greatest effect on fitness, is due to the fact that they entail greatest effect on fitness, is due to the fact that they entail the greatest the greatest

training load. Therefore, they should not be used in their full training load. Therefore, they should not be used in their full form within form within

two days of competitive matches so the body is not overloaded antwo days of competitive matches so the body is not overloaded and d

has time to recover. has time to recover.

Watered down versions, in terms of lower reps and durations, couWatered down versions, in terms of lower reps and durations, could be ld be

used. Whatever the training circumstances, no more than three hiused. Whatever the training circumstances, no more than three high gh

intensity aerobic drills per week should be used, in order to avintensity aerobic drills per week should be used, in order to avoid oid

overtraining.overtraining.

EX.

EX.

Although maximal interval drills involve a very high Although maximal interval drills involve a very high

intensity, their overall training load is relatively low. intensity, their overall training load is relatively low.

Therefore, it is recommended that maximal intensity Therefore, it is recommended that maximal intensity

drills can be used up to, but not within 2 day of drills can be used up to, but not within 2 day of

competition. Although the training loads associated with competition. Although the training loads associated with

aerobic drills can reach high levels, muscular fatigue aerobic drills can reach high levels, muscular fatigue

associated with the drills is relatively low.associated with the drills is relatively low.

EX.

Therefore, aerobic drills can be utilized right up to Therefore, aerobic drills can be utilized right up to the day before competition. Aerobic drills can the day before competition. Aerobic drills can also be used when the muscles are not fully also be used when the muscles are not fully fresh, such as the day following an intense fresh, such as the day following an intense training day or match. training day or match.

EX

What can we do to help players What can we do to help players

optimize their development?optimize their development?

Evaluate teams training and game Evaluate teams training and game

schedulesschedules

Tournament planningTournament planning

Make a training plan for the entire yearMake a training plan for the entire year

Educate coaches in your organizationsEducate coaches in your organizations

Educate parents in your organizationsEducate parents in your organizations

Self educationSelf education

US Soccer RecommendationsUS Soccer Recommendations

33--4 to 14 to 190 min90 min33--4 per week4 per weekU19U19

3 to 13 to 17575--90 min90 min3 per week3 per weekU16U16

22--3 to 13 to 175 min75 min22--3 per week3 per weekU14U14

22--3 to 13 to 16060--75 min75 min22--3 per week3 per weekU12U12

Practice:Match Practice:Match

RatioRatioDurationDuration# Sessions# SessionsAgeAge

3030

3030

3030

2020

Max Max

Games/yrGames/yr

PeriodizationPeriodization involves many variables involves many variables

including including frequency frequency (how often you train), (how often you train),

durationduration (how long you train for one (how long you train for one

session), session), volumevolume (how much you train in a (how much you train in a

given week ) and given week ) and intensityintensity (how hard you (how hard you

train at any given time). From these train at any given time). From these

variables a recipe is created that will variables a recipe is created that will

hopefully help you reach your peak hopefully help you reach your peak

performance performance

ReferencesReferences

Periodization: Fancy name for basic concept., by Steven Plisk, SPeriodization: Fancy name for basic concept., by Steven Plisk, Sports ports

Performance Director for Velocity Sports Performance.Performance Director for Velocity Sports Performance.

Elite Soccer Conditioning Elite Soccer Conditioning –– Periodization., by Brijesh Patel, MA, CSCS.Periodization., by Brijesh Patel, MA, CSCS.

Periodization: The Cornerstone of Sound Coaching., by Dan FreigaPeriodization: The Cornerstone of Sound Coaching., by Dan Freigang, PhD, ng, PhD,

Sports Psychology.Sports Psychology.

QuestionsQuestions

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