Identify athletes’ individual strengths and weaknesses

This is an excerpt from Strength Training for Soccer by NSCA -National Strength & Conditioning Association,Daniel Guzman & Megan Young.

BY SCOTT PIRI

In modern soccer, identifying athletes’ physical strength and weaknesses with the physical demands of the game is essential. The sport has progressed to the point where technology can be used to varying degrees to assist in the process. The ability to use match tracking analysis (e.g., Amisco and Prozone) during games is beneficial in examining the differences between athletes, positions, formations, and style of play for the team. Comparing match performance data with athletic performance profiling (i.e., from performance testing) develops an analytics platform for athletes and the position-specific demands for the team. Integrating all of this with GPS tracking systems data from practice on a regular basis develops a performance baseline for each athlete. This allows the analytics to recognize trends and tendencies for the athletes and positions within the team. The culmination of the performance data within a system for the athletes, the positions, and the game establishes a foundation for success. Movement skills and sport skills within soccer are always fused together. The capacity to evaluate, isolate, and integrate allows coaches and strength and conditioning professionals to develop the principles to improve soccer athletes for specific positions in the game.

Forwards, midfielders, defenders, and goalkeepers have different physical demands in the game. All positions require movement skills with and without the ball in possession. The movement skills previously discussed can be adjusted to the appropriate technical skills and tactical skills per position. Figures 2.2 through 2.5 highlight the primary and secondary movement skills for each position. This general summary is a basic review and intended to guide awareness, more than anything, about multidirectional speed qualities. Each soccer athlete uses all the primary movement skills but with a higher or lower priority in context to the specific position.