Strength and Conditioning: Extends Beyond the Field of Play

Strength and Conditioning: Extends Beyond the Field of Play

Most of us know that strength and conditioning can be extremely beneficial when it comes to reaching our fullest potential on the field such as helping us run faster, jump higher, and reducing the likelihood of injury.What isn’t talked about as much, though, is the impact that strength and conditioning has beyond the field.

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8 Random Thoughts on Soccer Performance Training

8 Random Thoughts on Soccer Performance Training

The other day my good friend and fellow performance coach, Mike Robertson wrote an article about random thoughts he’s had over the past couple of weeks on strength, speed, and conditioning. This prompted me to add to my already on-going list of random thoughts I have in regards to Soccer Performance Training. So, here are a few of the thoughts I have while training athletes.

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Simple Core Routine for Soccer Players

Simple Core Routine for Soccer Players

In soccer it is imperative that players are able to control their core as it allows for integration of the lower body with the upper body to transfer force from the ground upward and outward (ie. kicking, changing direction). If soccer players are unable to stabilize their core then it leaves them susceptible to injury and limits their performance and capabilities. Here is a core circuit that would be a better option for the athletes.

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Female Soccer Players: Strengthen These 3 Key Areas

Female Soccer Players: Strengthen These 3 Key Areas

Soccer requires us to perform incredible amounts of running, jumping, change of direction, acceleration and deceleration – in other words it is one of the most demanding sports on the body. And, the anterior chain, or front of the body, bears the majority of the stress compared to the backside of the body.

I find that “pushing” exercises like squatting and push-ups are much easier for the majority of our female soccer players to perform than “pulling” exercises such as deadlifts and rowing variations.Therefore I counterbalance these strength imbalances by targeting 3 main areas.

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The Real Way To Train Like A Soccer Pro

The Real Way To Train Like A Soccer Pro

The real focus should be on what professional athletes did when no one was watching- before anyone knew they were going to be stars.  How did they build their athleticism?  How did they improve their skill and technique?  These are the questions that should be getting asked.

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Over Use and Under Development

Over Use and Under Development

Skills have to be at the top of the pyramid when it comes to the growth of an athlete, but in a lot of ways its been reversed.  Young athletes are specializing in one sport, developing the skills to compete at a high level, but still incomplete as a player.  They haven't developed the overall strength and agility that comes from a wide foundation of pure athleticism. For those of you who just love the game, whatever that game may be, here are 3 of my favorite corrective moves.

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Are You Prepared to Perform the KB Swing? Part 2

Are You Prepared to Perform the KB Swing? Part 2

In today’s society that’s filled with excess sitting and “social media gone wild” approach to life, many athletes have poor posture and an incredibly weak posterior chain – which is leading to the increase in injuries and the lack of confidence in athletic performance. One exercise that can help combat these issues is the KB Swing.

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The Guide to Off-Season Training

The Guide to Off-Season Training

You’ve just finished the last game of regular season; you’re tired, beat up, and sad that it’s over but, luckily, you have another season to look forward to the following year or maybe even in a couple months. Either way, you’ve now entered into the off-season. If you want to become what we call an elite level soccer player you must train like the elite. The professional and collegiate level footballers all follow a strict off-season regimen to improve their game.

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Are You Prepared to Perform the Kettlebell Swing?

Are You Prepared to Perform the Kettlebell Swing?

Lets face it. The Kettlebell Swing is a killer exercise. And, when I say killer I mean the benefits of the swing are endless. All of this awesomeness in one exercise has athletes wanting to jump right in and get to swinging. The reality is though, that many aren’t prepared to perform the swing right off the bat.

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10 Types of Speed

10 Types of Speed

Its important to identify and train different types of speed for an athlete to increase overall performance.  Most sports, with the exception of track and field, require an athlete to make different types of movements depending on the situation. These 10 types of speed are like the gears to an old fashion watch.  If you take out just one of those gears, no matter how big or small that gear may be, the entire watch stops working.

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Move Better. Do More. Be Fast.

Move Better. Do More. Be Fast.

Move better, Do More, Be Fast!  This workout e-book from Chris "Trainer Gorres" is designed to help athletes reach and achieve their performance goals.  I’ve combined my experience working with top professional athletes from the NFL, NBA, MLB, and US Soccer, to create a program that works for athletes on all levels.  The 3 month plan will address flexibility, core strength, injury prevention, functional strength, power, speed and agility, fitness, and more. 

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Cardiac Output: The Case of an Under Recovered Soccer Player

Cardiac Output: The Case of an Under Recovered Soccer Player

While periods of high intensity work is absolutely needed, it can’t be the only aspect of your conditioning. If you want better results and if you want to perform better and longer – you need low intensity conditioning, or more specifically cardiac output.

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Layering the Turkish Get-Up with 1/4 and 1/2 Repetitions

Layering the Turkish Get-Up with 1/4 and 1/2 Repetitions

The Turkish Get-up offers a ton of benefits such as: Shoulder stability, Core strength and stability, Hip mobility and stability and Body awareness. Basically it is a fantastic total body strength exercise. With all of it moving parts, though, learning the movement in one sitting can be challenging. Therefore it is much easier to break it up into sections and layer it as you become more efficient with it.

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Best of Amplified Soccer Training Volume 1

Best of Amplified Soccer Training Volume 1

Take a look inside our first issue of Best of Amplified Soccer Training, a leading digital quarterly publication for coaches with resources from our partners and contributors, some of the best coaching educators in the game. Get 60 pages of drills, full training sessions, conditioning, psychology, exclusive interviews, sports science, nutrition, recipes and more all geared towards soccer coaches.

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