Fitter players play better football

Superior fitness at grassroots level is an even greater advantage than at the professional levels. At the lower levels of the game a players physical attributes can offten make up for some of their technical weaknesses. After all, if an elite player can lose technique when fatigued what chance do the rest of us have!

Football conditioning isn't just about stamina or endurance. The physiological demands of football are more complex than in many individual sports since players require some of the attributes of marathon runners, sprinters and high jumpers.

The multi-functionality of football means that players need multiple fitness attributes:

• endurance to run about 10km
• speed to get to the ball first
• strength to hold off/tackle opponents
• power to sprint, change direction, jump, kick and throw
• speed endurance to do multiple sprints consecutively
• strength endurance to repeatedly tackle and out jump opponents
• flexibility and co-ordination to control and pass the ball

Our football conditioning programs are adapted from the latest conditioning systems employed at the highest level of world football. Footballers are some of the fittest athletes in world sport and we can all benefit from their training techniques - whatever our playing ability or fitness level.

In order to condition the body to perform all these actions Football4ALL conditioning program uses a wide variety of conditioning methods, so you will not only get a great all round work out, but you will also never be bored while training.

Some of the conditioning methods used in a Football4ALL program:

• Circuit training
• Agility exercises
• Interval training
• Core strength exercises
• Sprint training
• Flexibility and co-ordination exercises
• Resistance training

Where possible the exercises and drills used in the program mimic as closely as possible the movements required in a game. This trains the muscles to perform these tasks with greater efficiency and precision. Not only will you be better equipped physically to play your sport after completing a Football4ALL program but you will also find your technical skills will also improve.