No more endurance runs in preparation

Sun, summer, sunshine or snow, winter, ice storm - as of now they threaten again:
Endurance runs in preparation.

In shimmering heat or freezing cold with either arctic or Qatari temperatures.

It's not just the already battered soccer pitches that will have to suffer again. In the coming weeks, the amateur players will also be chased around training grounds and forest meadows at a constant trot - by coaches who really only want their best.

What could be better than an honest and hard endurance run? A lot!

In today's blog post, we'll show you why endurance runs should only be chosen wisely and how you can train your soccer fitness as an alternative.

To make one thing clear in advance: Basic endurance is enormously important - it represents an important basis for all sports. If it is well trained, it primarily causes an increase in physical performance and thus also optimizes the recovery ability.

This often also results in increased injury prevention.

Soccer is a highly dynamic sport. The realization that soccer has become faster and faster in recent decades is probably not news to anyone.

Running performances are exploding and so-called "hard runs" (i.e. maximum sprints) are perceived to be increasing from game to game.

This means that the requirement profile of a soccer player - whether in the district or national league - has also changed.

From trotting strategist to serial sprinter.

Therefore, it is only logical to train endurance with a sport-specific movement pattern. What you need for this? Short, intensive loads and active breaks in between again and again!

For the soccer player this means:

It must include starts, stops and changes of direction.

Movements that occur rather rarely in a typical endurance or cross country run.

A great way to effectively prepare soccer players for the "faster" game is to use the HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) approach.

HIIT alternates intense loads with active breaks. This means, for example, sprints or jumps as an intense load followed by an active break.

There are no rigid rules about how long the intervals have to be.

The workouts push the athlete to his or her limits, so that he or she needs an above-average amount of oxygen and thus stimulates the metabolism, which consequently significantly improves endurance.

The first 10 minutes will be used to get you used to the temperature and movement.

Use this loose run-in also to arrive at the training and "say hi" to your teammates.

To ensure that there is no risk of injury during the following workout, a focused warm-up is essential.

We recommend you start with movement preps, i.e. exercises that combine stretching, activation and mobilization elements.