Coaching Education content presented in partnership with The FA Learning


THE BODY OF THE GAME
The physiological demands of soccer are more complex than in many individual sports since players require some of the physiological attributes of both marathon runners and sprinters.  The demands on players vary depending on the level of performance, positional role and style of play incorporated by a team.  The various demands placed on players at all levels during a match include:

As a result, the various components that make up the overall fitness of a player as well as their energy systems within the body (the systems that produce energy either with or without oxygen) are put under various degrees of stress, so there is a need for them to be adequately developed.

Soccer is commonly classified as a multiple-sprint sport characterized by short periods of high-intensity exercise randomly interspersed with periods of active or passive recovery.  In addition to the physical activity, the player must be mentally prepared to make split-second decisions in an ever-changing environment.  Although factors such as skill, technique and motivation will be crucial in the preparation of the player and team, fitness has an influence on them all.


THE FOUR S's

In general terms, fitness is often referred to as being made up of four S’s, namely:

Strength
This enhances the performance and execution of many soccer players.  Every skill that a player must perform against resistance will benefit from the improvement of strength.

Speed
 It is important to remember that not all speed work is about quick sprints, but often about concentrated intensive spells lasting much longer than a few seconds, such as fullbacks making an overlapping run, then running back to get into defensive position.

Stamina
Scientific studies have shown that enhancing aerobic (with oxygen) endurance in soccer players can improve their performance by increasing the distance covered, the work intensity and the number of sprints and episodes involved with the ball during a game.

Suppleness (or Flexibility)
The flexibility requirements of soccer players vary depending on the position and role of the player in the same way as it varies between sports.

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Strength, speed, stamina and suppleness combine to produce the overall fitness level of the individual.  However, it is important to realize that soccer is made up of a team of 11 individuals with different positions and roles to play and so the requirements for each player will be different.

In basic terms, soccer teams are made up of four key positions (goalkeeper, defender, midfielder and strikers), but we are going to look at all the likely positions players may be asked to play within their teams.

Goalkeeper
The crucial physical attributes required by a goalkeeper are speed when rushing out to intercept a pass, strength to claim a corner kick through a crowd of players and suppleness to stretch for a ball when attempting a save.

Center back
Typically, center backs will need to be able to jump and challenge for the ball as well as having the speed to cut out passes and then the strength to hold off attackers.

Fullback
Making attacking overlapping runs and then having to get back if the ball is lost to cover their defensive duties means that fullbacks require a great deal of stamina. Having to get back into position quickly means that speed is also an essential requirement.

Wingback
 The role of wingback will mean the individuals are responsible for covering both roles as an attacking winger and defensive fullback.  Eventually, the position of wingback is a progression on from fullback.

Holding Midfielder
In this position, the player will be required to constantly put pressure on the opponent’s midfielders and, therefore, cover a lot of ground, often with little time to rest and recover.  This means that excellent stamina is critical as well as strength when attempting to make tackles.

Winger
When playing on the wing, the player will be expected to track back and assist the fullback as often as he or she is expected to push forward and create chances for the strikers, needing excellent stamina and speed.

Attacking Midfielder
As an attacking midfielder, you need strength to ensure that tackles are won for the team, speed to sprint to the box to score a goal and stamina to run back to help with defensive duties.

Attacker (Target man)
They key attribute for this role is strength.  The ability to perform this task means that stamina is also an essential requirement of any striker.

Attacker (Speedy striker)
The most obvious attribute required of a striker is speed, so that he or she can make runs onto through balls played from the midfield and get ahead of opposing defenders.  Strength is required to hold off defenders.  Stamina is needed so that runs made in the 90th minute are as crisp as those made in the first.

HOW TACTICS DEFINE THE ATTRIBUTES REQUIRED

It will often be the case that a manager’s tactics will be influenced not just by the skills of the players, but also by their physical attributes and fitness levels.  This is particularly the case in grassroots soccer where players will have less time to train and so should not be expected to be as physically fit as their professional counterparts

Therefore, the manager will always need to be aware of his or her players’ fitness levels as well as their technical strengths and weaknesses as this could affect their ability to play in certain positions for the team.

The other critical reason that a manager must be aware of the physical attributes of his or her players is so that he or she can provide training to match their needs in order to help the players improve their game.  For example, if you have a player who is a great finisher, but never lasts more than 45 minutes before becoming fatigued it should be the role of the manager to assist the player and improve his or her stamina.

Skills and ability can only take a player so far before the intangibles, such as strength, speed, stamina and suppleness, are severely needed.  Having a great shot does no good if you can’t get it off against faster, stronger and better fit defenders.  These key attributes turn marginal players into good players and good players into great players.