Anticipation requires core and leg strength

The third and final part to being able to out anticipate an opponent in soccer is to have the physical skills to do it.

First, soccer players have to be able to know when to move. Then they have to be ready to move.

The third key is to have the correct athletic skills and conditioning to move correctly.

This is where most sports specialists and speed coaches spend their time. It’s a lot of fun to come up with ways to have the kids move.

But without the other two, it’s pretty much a waste of time. Hopefully, you’re working on the first two techniques.

There are two secrets to being able to change direction quickly:

1. Stopping quick.

2. Starting quick.

The secret to to both is to keep the knees bent and apply the force only in the direction you want to go. This takes leg and core strength.

Simply put, you have to keep the body and legs aligned. If your core collapses and the body can’t stop you won’t move quickly. And if you do, you’re going to pull a muscle or get hurt.

If you don’t have the leg strength to keep the body level when you change directions you waste a lot of time moving up and down. Again, not fast.

A lot of soccer drills that address these issues can be developed at home or on their own. Young players should be working on developing the athletic skills need to have the leg and core strength so that they can move quickly.

If you want to learn some great soccer fitness exercises and ways to teach them to your child or a team, then click the link.

Some kids will pick this up naturally. Others will never get it unless they are taught. Give all the kids on your team a chance!

Simply put, this means not to