How to Get in Soccer Shape
When was the last time you looked at a professional soccer player and thought, “Wow, this player looks so out of shape!” Probably seldom.
Unlike the need for a big, strong body to succeed as a lineman in football or a 7-foot height advantage in basketball, being a lean, athletic, and fit individual is far more important in soccer.
Soccer players have a distinct physical appearance because of the rigorous training they undergo to prepare for the game.
Properly training like a soccer player won’t magically transform you into Cristiano Ronaldo, but it will get you in playing shape to compete amongst players your age.
In this article, we’ll address how to get in soccer shape and things to keep in mind.
How Do You Train for Soccer?
It’s no secret 🤐 that you need to work on your conditioning to play better soccer.
Your cardiovascular fitness and strength can be improved, your nutrition can be optimized, and your bad habits can be thrown out the window. Simple adjustments to your daily routine can significantly impact how well you play soccer.
In the following sections, we’ll explain what it takes to get in shape for soccer, from diet and exercise to mental preparation, and what you can do to ensure you’re at your best.
Let’s get into it…
Start Working Out
When it comes to getting into soccer condition, planning a workout routine is helpful. And, simply starting is the big first step.
There’s several options where to work out:
- At home
- Nearby gym
- Outside
The easiest way to work out is putting on a guided Youtube video and following along for 30 minutes. These are fun exercises you can do in the comfort of your home. Doing these consistently can really improve your overall health.
For older youth and adult players, the local gym is a great place to improve your fitness in many ways including cardio and weight lifting.
When working out at a gym, try to go 2-3 times a week and focus each session on different muscle groups. For example, Monday can be chest and triceps, Wednesday is back and biceps and Friday is leg day.
Moreover, getting creative and working out outside can be more fun than being stuck indoors. Weather dependent, players can create their own routines. For example, one day could be running 3 miles down the road. Another day could be going to the local park to do pull ups and agility exercises.
Whichever route you choose, starting is the key. Don’t overcomplicate your routines. Even 10 minutes is better than zero.
Work on Your Endurance
Keeping a high level of aerobic fitness has shown to be beneficial for performance in team sports.
Therefore, to get in better shape and compete on the soccer field, you must engage in aerobic activity.
Depending on your current level of fitness, an aerobic fitness program of 4–10 weeks can substantially impact your performance on the field.
You may improve your cardiovascular health and soccer performance by participating in aerobic workouts like jogging, cycling, jump roping and swimming during the offseason.
Consider HIIT Exercises
High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is a widely practiced method of getting in better shape. Research shows that HIIT is beneficial for more than just weight loss.
The concept behind high-intensity interval training is to work hard for shorter durations. Most HIIT routines last a little more than 10 minutes, but the intensity is substantially higher.
HIIT can be beneficial for soccer because:
- After completing a HIIT workout, your metabolism will continue to be elevated for several hours.
- Regular HIIT training might help you shed unwanted pounds more quickly.
- HIIT can aid muscle preservation depending on the type of exercise you do.
- You may increase your oxygen consumption by doing HIIT.
These perks might help you get in better shape to excel as a soccer player. The best way to go into HIIT is to explore YouTube for workout channels to be motivated by. Here’s an example for a beginner…
The great thing about HIIT is that it can be done at home or in a gym.
Focus on Your Preseason Training
While most soccer players use the offseason as an opportunity to relax and spend time with their friends, it is also essential for the team to prepare for the upcoming season.
In most cases, the preseason will begin four to six weeks before the start of the regular season.
During these weeks, soccer players often prioritize physical conditioning over technical skill development.
The preseason is a demanding preparation period focusing primarily on cardiovascular exercises.
You still need to work for preseason training even if you’re not actively playing for a club during the off-season. If you don’t, you’ll spend the whole season trying to catch up and find it challenging to perform at the same level as the rest of your team.
Don’t Shortcut Soccer Practice!
It should go without saying, but… However, many athletes believe they can just show up on the game day and perform flawlessly.
Nevertheless, the fact is that soccer players spend the majority of their time doing the most crucial work on the training field. A team’s preparation includes not only strategizing and arranging formations, but also physical conditioning drills.
Missing a few training sessions here and there might negatively affect your condition.
Make it a priority to not only attend soccer practice regularly but push yourself at all times. Over the course of the season, these training sessions will compound over time.
Play Small-Sided Soccer as Much as You Can
To improve your fitness and overall game, regularly play small-sided soccer as much as you can.
Small-sided soccer games are typically intense and fast-paced since the ball doesn’t go out of play as often as in 11-a-side competitions.
Most teams also use a tactic known as “player-to-player marking,” which requires each player to shadow their opponent wherever they go on the field constantly.
In addition to providing fantastic exercise, playing soccer in a small-sided format is loads of fun and can provide players an outlet to play faster!
Improve Your Diet
When it comes to getting healthy, what you eat is just as crucial as how often you workout. Consuming excessive refined carbs, processed meals, or sugary snacks is bad for your health.
Therefore, if you want to get in better shape for soccer, it may be time to change your diet.
Start eating whole, unprocessed foods such as fruits and vegetables. Include lean protein sources in your meals, like fish, eggs, and legumes. And be sure to get plenty of complex carbohydrates like oats or quinoa for energy.
There is no one set food plan that would guarantee you the best performance on the field. Making healthier food choices and continuing it a lifestyle is your best path.
Although eating properly isn’t very complicated, it might be challenging to establish healthy eating habits. That’s why it’s important to take it gradually and make little adjustments as you work to improve your nutrition.
Be Sure To Hydrate Well
Water intake is almost as important as eating healthy. This is especially true during the workouts and training sessions.
According to studies, more than half of Americans don’t drink enough water. This is detrimental to your health, well-being, and performance as a soccer player.
You need to replace the fluids you lose through sweating since around 60% of your body is water.
If you don’t drink enough water, you might get dehydrated. When you’re dehydrated your body doesn’t function well and you may get light-headed.
It goes without saying that you can’t perform at your best on the soccer field if you’re dehydrated.
Put an End to Your Negative Routines
To sum up, if you can kick certain negative habits and replace them with positive ones, you’ll see a significant uptick in your soccer play.
Obviously, we’re not encouraging you to deprive yourself of any enjoyment, but there are some activities you’ll need to scale back on if you want to get in shape for soccer.
Getting in soccer shape is fairly straightforward:
- Workout
- Eat Healthy
- Drink lots of water
- Play as much as you can
- Rest and repeat
How Long Does It Take To Reach the Ideal Condition?
Your present fitness level, mental readiness, and technical expertise all play a role in how quickly you can attain your fitness goals.
The more ideal these conditions are, the less complicated they will be. In general, around four to six weeks is the minimum for making progress and seeing significant improvements.
It’s important to prepare for this time period with regular exercise and healthy eating habits.
During this period, you will improve your physical abilities, such as strength, speed, stamina, and coordination.
A Few Quick Tips for Getting in Shape
Exercising with a purpose without wearing yourself out is the best way to get into great soccer shape. Such commitment is necessary if you want to succeed at the highest level.
You don’t have to train for hours on end. For youth players, try to keep your workouts around 30 minutes to an hour.
Consistency is key but have a rest day or two.
For example, your weekly schedule could look something like this…
- Monday: Run 3 miles / 20 pushups
- Tuesday: Jump rope for 10 minutes / HIIT exercises for 30 minutes / stretch for 10 minutes
- Wednesday: Ball work for 30 minutes / Agility training for 10 minutes
- Thursday: Rest day
- Friday: Run and sprint for 3 miles / 20 pushups
- Saturday: Yoga and stretching for 45 minutes
- Sunday: Rest day
Training by yourself should be a priority if you want to get into better soccer shape.
It’s important to listen to your body. Be okay to rest if you are too exhausted to workout on a day you have something planned.
Remember to have a long-term view. Overdoing your workout routines could cause injury and minor aches and pains.
Conclusion
If there was a magic formula for getting in shape in under 20 minutes, everyone would do it.
For this reason, it’s good that there is no secret or shortcut. You can put yourself at an advantage among other players by doing the basics: working out regularly and eating healthy.
Use these tips as a starting point to improve your overall physical fitness.
Don’t forget, the most important thing is that you get started and never give up. Keep moving forward, and don’t look back! You got this 💪
Hey 👋 I’m Beau. A proud Dad, former coach and soccer enthusiast. I continue to love the game of soccer today the same way I did when I was 7. I created soccernovo.com to share what I know about the game as well as provide a platform so other parents can learn more about youth soccer in the U.S. 
