How to Structure Your Training Week

The coaching process has been previously described as a complex concept, however, recently it has been down within simple cycles such as planning, execution, analysing & adapting.

“…..We play together, with energy and character, and we do the same training. The way we play is just a consequence of how we train….”

– Zinedine Zidane

Zinedine Zidane

Why Structure is Important

From a team sport perspective the concept known as session design within the planning stage is key to the development of both individuals & teams. Irrespective of whether you play one or two fixtures per week, the physical & psychological demands of training combined with an intensive competitive schedule are of fundamental importance when planning a training plan.

If the planning strategy is incorrect and leads to a combination of high fatigue levels & low ‘freshness’ amongst the players or athletes, it can be counter-productive not only to performance levels when it matters, but also detrimental to player health and wellbeing increasing the risk of injury.

Applying a detailed and disciplined tapering & periodisation schedule to training and competition to allow players or athletes to maximally prepare for, but also recover from the demands of the sport is paramount.

ISSPF are here to expose to you to a bespoke online soccer coaching education providing numerous online football coaching courses, & online football coaching certifications in order to boost your capability as soccer or football coaches as well as support staff.

Marcelo Brazil

How to Add Structure to Training

As we know from the current climate within team sports, player fatigue is a natural and expected result of any soccer training and competition due to the length of the season & the fixture congestion periods that appear with greater success. From a team sport perspective, intensive competitive games generally lead to acute fatigue characterised through declines in physical performance, increased muscle damage & lack of mobility & strength across the 48-72 hrs period post-match.

Training Structure Map

Image: Training taper or tapering has many definitions & understandings but if you look into the concept in detail and apply it to both individual or team sports, you will see not only the sense of it from an academic perspective, but also through performance & results

What is Tapering?

Tapering was initially bought into more commonly for athletes competing in a one-off event such as an Olympic event where the build-up peaks once or twice per year.

It can also apply to individual-based sports where you can periodise and apply a taper for the main event, however, this has recently become one of the key areas in football education and research assisting in the development of top class coaching methodologies & game model progressions.

The bespoke courses developed by ISSPF Faculty members are a way of further exposing sport science students, coaching individuals working within the game & other soccer science & performance coaching enthusiasts with a thirst to develop further.

The link below will take you to the Physical Training & Soccer Methodology Online Sports Science Course, which has been described as one of the best online courses for further developing & adding to football coaching qualifications, where you will be exposed to football science research and practical examples used within the game

Physical Training & Soccer Methodology Online Sports Science Course
Woman Footballer

How Will This Course Improve Me?

  • Provides most efficient training methods and detailed insights into developing player. fitness alongside tactical strategies & developing a training methodology.
  • Gain a better understanding how to maximise development & preparation of players in a more efficient & contemporary game model approach.
  • Learn how to balance key training elements from a technical, tactical & physical preparation in order to attain peak performance.
  • Practitioners & coaches can only benefit themselves & their players further by a more in-depth knowledge of physical training & soccer methodology.
  • Help maximise your decision making through a better understanding & appreciation of tapering & soccer periodisation.

What Does This Course Cover?

Module 1: The appliance of science – tapering & periodisation in team sports 
Lecturer: Dr. Adam Owen

Module 2: Soccer specific monitoring: Weekly microcycle, planning and performance 
Lecturer: Dr. Dawid Golinski

Module 3: Game model building & development: Reinterpreting Tactical Periodisation 
Lecturer: Alejandro Romero-Caballero

Module 4: Individualised Periodization in a Soccer Team: A working model
Lecturer: Jarred Marsh

Module 5: An integrated approach to soccer training: Developing a working model
Lecturer: Efthymios Kyprianou

Module 6: Carbohydrate requirements of soccer players: Implications for periodisation
Lecturer: Dr. Liam Anderson

Module 7: Integrating Physical & Tactical Periodisation in Soccer: Senior & Youth levels
Lecturer: Hamish Munro

Module 8: Maximal intensity conditioning periods in soccer: Physical vs. Tactical strategies
Lecturer: Dr. Miguel Angel Campos Vazquez

Module 9: Preparing the modern soccer player: Training session design
Lecturer: Dr. Adam Owen

Module 10: Competitive soccer training microcycle: Structure & justification 
Lecturer: Dr. Manuel Segovia

Physical Training & Soccer Methodology Online Sports Science Course

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