Why we train year round in soccer

Sometimes I am asked, “Why do kids train year-round? Doesn’t that wear the kids out? Don’t you run out of material?” You would think that the most obvious answer would be to help kids get ahead, but that is not the only reason.  Players like Pele and other greats would play soccer 6-7 hours per day.  Most of this was playing with the ball on their own or playing “street soccer”.  Many of the kids I’ve trained over the past decade trained with me year round.  Not to get ahead, but because they love to improve in the sport they love.  Kids need to stay active.  But don’t think you personally have to train year round.  Do what’s best for your family.  This article is just to explain that playing year round isn’t too much for their bodies.  

Planting the skill into your muscle memory

Knowledge is not useful if form is not habitually implanted. In other words – if a player is unable to remember and apply the techniques learned in skills training [due to age or speed of play for example] because they are not second nature, not a habit, then the learning is short-term at best and will not affect long-term change in the player’s game.

Read this article to learn more about the importance of muscle memory in soccer/futbol. 

Always room for improvement

At GFT we train over a thousand kids per year [Online and In-person]. Some of them train all year and some of them only do Fall or Spring training. Then you have some who only play for their team and then come to our Summer soccer camps. Either way, I do this full time supporting my family and love every minute. I get to teach soccer to people who share the same passion and want to improve in it.

Some of the trainees I have or still train play professional soccer or college soccer. Some at every age play on the US Soccer teams. Every single one of those players wants to keep improving so bad. This is the attitude you need to have if you want to do well in what you love.

Setting habits when you train

that help them be prepared in and out of soccer season but as a life skill. There has to be that mindset of knowing you have to do certain things over and over to get what you want.

There is a story of a man who watered a bamboo tree for 5 years before it ever showed green. Finally after 5 years it grew over 50 feet in 5 weeks. So the question is “how long did it take for the tree to grow, 5 years or 5 months? Or was it 5 years and 5 months? So yes, soccer is like this and we have to put in work week after week before we sometimes see what we have been working for. Be patient and keep believing in yourself and what you do.

To stay sharp on the ball

Some kids are coming off an injury or low season of playing time or are going into a season and need extra ball touches. Soccer is not like basketball or football where you retain so much of your skills, even if you don’t practice. Every week or extra day you take off of soccer you become more clumsy with the ball at your feet. Yes, every player needs 1 or 2 days off of activity, but if you take off weeks, months or seasons you will lose so much skill.

Taking a season off of soccer, while continuing to practice skill on your own or with a trainer is different. That will help, as long as the training is the right training. I believe and know through my teaching/training experience that kids can take off a whole season, and do other sports and still get ahead in soccer. Think about doing all the right soccer skill drills on your own for even 30 minutes a week, compared to someone who goes to team practice twice a week with no good touches. It’s all about the proper soccer training.

To stay fit & prevent injury

One of the main reasons kids or adults get injured is because they start a sport when they are out of shape. In spite of the extra competitiveness around the U.S. in youth sports, many kids are not as active as they were. Not only do they need to be physically fit but being fit helps prevent injuries. Staying prepared keeps your body aware of the movements you demand and how it should respond / perform.

At the same time, you have to understand what I mean by year round training. I don’t mean do strength or speed training very much. The main thing soccer players need is technical training. This can be lots of light training that keeps you sharp, but not cause injury due to too much strain on the body.

To teach players how to protect themselves

When players have good habits of performing the moves with proper technique then when put in a situation to use the skill {e.g., heading the ball} the player is able to meet and control the ball while protecting their own head and body from injury.

Train to have the right mindset

One of the most important things to know is – everyday isn’t fun.  There comes a time (age) when some practices aren’t fun.  It might be when you’re tired, having pain, activities you miss to soccer or for many – fitness days.  

The key is knowing that all the good outweighs the bad.  Then knowing you have to go through hard times to enjoy the success.  It hurts to be good. 

When you train do it with a purpose.  That is to improve each day.  You can’t go out to practice just to practice.  It needs to be done with the mindset to get a little better each time.  The days add up and for those who put in the work, you’ll see the fruit of your labor. 

To have FUN when you train

This is the most important and a top reason parents bring the kids to GFT. We look at the training as a long-term relationship. Not only the level of play on the field, but the character development off the field. The opportunity to speak positive reinforcement and mindset to kids is humbling and many parents tell me that the training the kids receive from us each week is the highlight of their week.

Club soccer is a year round sport

Kids play soccer year-round and we train all ages and skill levels, making it always soccer season at GFT. Kids may take a month or two off for rest [including holidays, inclement weather, travel, etc.].

We encourage taking rests and breaks as development should not be rushed. If a kid does not play in the season, was injured, switched teams, etc. they need to get individual attention.

One of the most important thing to remember is to be consistent in and out of season. Remember, just as you can’t summon character, energy, or physical fitness at a moment’s notice.  Neither can you instantly create soccer stamina or endurance or strength or the right mindset.