FITNESS4SOCCER: Training.: Maximum Performance Limited.
 | |
 | |
Most training drills are, by their very nature linear and very "left-brained", but the right side of the brain that is the so called "creative centre" needs to be worked to the same degree. When most people have a problem they are encouraged to work harder to overcome that problem, but what if they are working to their limits, what "Maximum Performance" training proposes is to imagine harder to solve the problem.
The balancing of the training is of fundamental importance in the needs of the modern player, a strong body and a strong mind. The need for creativity, that spark of genius, that unexpected movement, can and does upset the most sophisticated team systems, tactics, and organisation. So alongside the tactical/ technical and physical drills, creative and reactive drills should be given the same emphasis. To train the creative side of your brain equally as much as the logical side, creativity does not just happen it is trained for and can be greatly strengthened and improved. As one trains the body to get stronger through the overload principal then that very same rule applies to the mind, and through a series of progressive drills that continually make the mind and body expand the creative juices start flowing.
Do not be limited to past experiences, constantly strive to explore new horizons and ways of thinking about the game. Why use only one ball in a game or drill, why only play two teams against each other, why only have two goals to score in and defend, if you remove these barriers it makes the coach/team think differently to overcome the new problems!
By filling the mind with these tasks the body also has to adjust to compensate, and in turn becomes more flexible, strong, and mobile.
By working on multi-levels (ground, air, and after a bounce or deflection), a state of continuous adjustment and re-adjustment takes place, so each and every player is always prepared for all eventualities that can happen during a game. Using a series of training drills a new mindset and body awareness is achieved.
Once all the basic concepts of Maximum Performance are understood, team games, drills, and competitions are introduced. The essence of Maximum Performance training is to give each participant a rounded, rhythmic, development, which gives mastery of the ball, wherever the play demands, left foot, right foot, front foot, back foot, back, side, reverse. or whatever, and above all makes every training session a very enjoyable experience. What makes Maximum Performance training unique in the world of football fitness is it’s ability to be done solo, in a group, indoors, outdoors, all ages, sexes. and at any time. High knee kicks, inside and outside knee kicks, inside and outside crescent kicks, preparation kicks (in all positions), heel kicks, volleys, combination kicks, spins, turns, pivots, mental and physical freedom. Isolation movements, low walking, slide walking (front and side) foot shapes, and emphasised high knee lift. Sole trapping. knee trapping, rear trapping, , forward sole rolls, reverse rolls, sideways rolls, repeated on both feet in tempo to the music. Stepovers, inside and outside crescent kicks, with the emphasis on exaggerated movements. Combinations of all of the above techniques (using your own imagination). Running and bopping to the beat of the music at all times, the ball being touched as gently as possible without moving it. This sensitivity of touch is vital in teaching ball control and football fitness. For the more skilled and experienced player, the ability to control the ball at whatever speed, angle, and more importantly height it arrives at, is of the utmost importance. So all of the previous Maximum Performance techniques are practised at three different levels. Level one is doing all of the Maximum Performances with the ball always on the ground. Level two is repeating them all on the half volley (all drills to be done after one bounce of the ball). Level three is doing them all on the volley (the ball never touches the floor), All levels are executed on both feet at all times, to encourage bilateral development.
To make the player aware that all his movements are just like dance steps or a coach is in reality a choreographer, and all of the aspects of these disciplines are at their disposal, opens up a whole New World of possibilities.
The major difference between British and South American development of young players is in the emphasis on physical/technical training. A much more detailed and intense level of all round physical and technical abilities are worked for. The two major aspects of training are whenever possible, worked together, Never run just for running sake, run to avoid an opponent, to gain space, to close an opponent down, towards the ball, etc.
Always if possible at the end of every run add a technical aspect (ball control, tackle, jump, spin) whatever the type of running involved. Also avoid at all costs running in straight lines only; teach retro (backwards)
sidewinders, combination runs (bent runs with a turn, a change of rhythm,
multi-plane, etc.).Also a total conditioning must be undertaken involving all the parameters of "football fitness", speed, strength, suppleness, skill, selection (intelligent decision making) and stamina, all of these must be worked on equally in each and every training session. The "Ajax"method follows these guidelines implicitly, their T.I.P.S. drills are carried out at each and every training session from the earliest age right through to first team players. The T.I.P.S. (T for technique, I for intelligence, P for personality or power, and S for speed) is exactly the same as the Brazilian Argentinean, Uruguayan, method only using different words for the same idea.
There is a series of fundamental exercises that are absolutely fundamental in training. These are as follows.
1/. High knee lifts.
2/. Side knee lifts.
3/. Inside crescent kicks.
4/. Outside crescent kicks.
All of the above techniques are undertaken at three levels of execution.
1/. Ground -level, the ball is always kept on the floor.
2/. Air -level, the ball is played on the volley and never touches the floor.
3/. Mid -level, the ball is played after one bounce on the floor.
All of your training will involve these techniques in every drill, match, game, or movement you teach, as they are the base of every football scenario.
All of the kicking techniques used in football, use at least one of the above movements, and are absolutely vital in skill development, power development and very importantly, injury prevention. All football kicks start at the hip, through the knee, to the foot.
For further information contact:
Roger Spry
