Jun 11 • Conditioning
Is running & conventional endurance training the best way to train your cardio?!
⚽ Want to improve your cardio fitness for games?
Most players think they need to spend hours running laps or doing long conditioning workouts to improve their endurance.
But research suggests there may be a better way.
📚 A review by Arslan et al. looked at studies involving youth male soccer players under 18 years old.
The researchers compared:
🏃 Conventional endurance training• Continuous running• Long interval runs (basically runs >3 minutes)
vs.
⚽ Small-Sided Games (SSGs)• 2v2, 3v3, 4v4, etc.• Smaller fields• Modified rules• More touches and game-like situations
🔍 What did they find?
Small-sided games were just as effective as traditional endurance training for improving aerobic fitness in youth soccer players.
Why does this matter?
Because instead of spending time only running, you can improve your fitness while also developing:
✅ Technical skills
✅ Decision-making
✅ Game awareness
✅ Soccer-specific conditioning
In other words, you can train your engine and your soccer skills at the same time.
💡 Takeaway: If your goal is to become fitter for matches, don't assume more running is always better.
Well-designed small-sided games can provide a powerful conditioning stimulus while making you a better soccer player.
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Is running & conventional endurance training the best way to train your cardio?!
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Soccer performance coach, Doctor of Physical Therapy & CSCS. Evidence-based training, recovery, and injury prevention for ambitious athletes.
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