Train Fast Play Fast
We have all seen how the game is speeding up, the demands of the game are such that the ball is in play longer and there are more movements that all players need to be able to perform. As a result players need to be prepared suitably by coaches:
- Players need to move quickly
- Think quickly
- Have fast reactions
- They need to train fast - if you train slow you play slow
I’m sure you all noticed that Japan were one of the fastest teams at the World Cup. They had trained so well at their strengths (performing skills at speed) that other teams just couldn’t cope with what they were doing. Japan struggled in other areas of the game but were one of the best in this area.
To be fast we need to have speed built into our training. Below are a few steps that you should take when coaching your players to be faster.
Warming up
Here we look at the way we prepare our players by warming up appropriately and effectively. Using agility training to develop those fast twitch muscle fibres and prepare the joints for the session. All movements should be fast and relevant to movements we do in a game.
Reacting and Having Fun
Reaction speed can be fun, the ability in this game is to get off the floor quickly and chase down your partner, reflecting the ability to get back in the game and be effective.
Athletic Development
Tom Varndell here goes through some effective speed training exercises, if you don’t have some of the equipment that he uses you can adapt the exercise using other methods and achieve similar effects. Remember to train fast, if you start to move slowly – do something else.
Sport Specific Movements
Mirroring movement is a really fun and interactive way to develop speed and agility – by copying and mirroring another player you can develop those essential skills of reading another player and reacting to their intentions, you can use this practice in attack or defence.
Every training session you do with any age group should include an element of speed training, where you look to develop aspects of speed development in areas such as:
- Top Speed
- Speed Endurance
- Acceleration
- Deceleration
- Change of Direction
As mentioned earlier, speed training needs to be done fast – if you are fatigued, recovering from a match, not recovered from injury, or just tired then do not try and do speed training. Simply put if you train slow you will not recruit or develop the muscles and central nervous system to move you fast!