
“We have decades of research demonstrating the effectiveness of longer duration workouts – why would we suddenly think they have no benefit?” Dr. No more reading magazines … Have you ever tried to read a magazine while you’re doing a burpee with a tuck jump? Suddenly, fitness gurus everywhere were competing to see who had the toughest workout. The problem is you don’t actually burn much of anything – because the intensity is so low.Īs a response to the lack of effectiveness from exercise at a sleepwalking pace, high-intensity workouts appeared. We burn mostly fat during low-intensity activities (you’re probably burning mostly fat while you’re reading this). Heaven forbid you broke into a jog – then you’d be burning carbs!
ENDURANCE FITNESS FULL
Gyms everywhere were full of people walking slowly on a treadmill while reading a magazine. Well, guess what? I remember when we were all obsessed with low-intensity, long-duration workouts because they got us into the ‘fat burning’ zone. And you can get your own soccer GPS tracker, Apex Athlete Series, here.You know you’re getting old when you begin statements with: “I remember when…” Nutrition is key for recovery, sustaining energy levels and staying fit and healthy.įor more fitness drills and tips, you can follow Dave on Instagram and Twitter. Rest and recovery is essential when working at such a high level. Plyometric training is great for building explosive power and speed. This max speed drill will enable you to sustain high level sprints for longer in a game, as the recovery time is low, so you will be conditioning your body to cope with higher stress and workloads, with short recoveries like in a match.Ĭircuit training is great as you can again work for bursts of speed and active rest.

How can you expect to hit top speeds and last 90+ minutes if you haven’t achieved it in training? Run to other side of the half-way D and back to 18 in 15 seconds.Run to 18-yard box to half way and back to goal line and 6 yard box in 15 secs, 15 recovery.Run from 18-yard box to half way and back in 15 seconds, 15 recovery.Interval training is an effective training method to develop match fitness and endurance levels:

This drill works the players for a set time period and then an equal time period of rest.įootball being an intermittent multi-directional sport involving high intensity movements such as sprints that are then followed by walking or jogging, before again high intensity occur again.


This drill incorporates all the facets you need in a match with bursts of speed, jogging and walking. Using our soccer GPS tracker, Apex Athlete Series, you can monitor your total distance, max speed, amount of high speed running and heat map in each training session and game, making sure you don’t get left behind.Īs pre-season continues in earnest, we asked Dave Mendonca of Mendo Fitness for his top drills and advice for improving your aerobic endurance. Pre-season is the perfect time to build that foundation of speed and endurance. Who can run faster, for longer, and come out on top. Skill is hugely important obviously, but sport, by and large, comes down to who has the better endurance.
