13 Benefits of Cross Training For Soccer Players
Every elite soccer player you can think of, from Messi to Gareth Bale to Paolo Maldini, have one training secret in common, and it’s not what you think. It’s not endless hours perfecting their first touch or taking hundreds of shots, although they have already spent a lot of time mastering those skills.
It’s actually playing different sports and using that as training. As a soccer player who is already doing soccer specific training weekly, one of the best ways to improve your athleticism, stamina, coordination, decrease the risk of injury, and avoid burnout, which all lead to better soccer performance, is by cross training.
Cross training is the practice of playing multiple sports on top of the athlete’s primary sport and as a soccer player, trainer, and graduate of kinesiology rehab science, I am a huge advocate of cross training to improve performance. In this blog post I will be going over the main benefits of cross training and how you can begin doing it as a soccer player.
What are the Benefits of Cross Training for Soccer Players?
Cross training means combining multiple sports with your soccer training to improve overall fitness, target different muscle groups to improve overall athletic development, and prevent overuse injuries that plague soccer players who focus only on their primary sport. Cross training exercises can be done for a couple of minutes before soccer practice, as light active recovery sessions on rest day, or during recovery periods to help develop well-rounded athletes.
The main benefits of cross training for soccer players includes:
- Improved balance, coordination, and overall athletic skills
- Can act as full body workouts and help you get in top shape
- Can act as low impact workouts for passive recovery
- Reduces the risk of injuries
- Improves cardiovascular fitness and boosts endurance
- Improves fascia and muscular strength
- Works other muscle groups not used in that athlete’s primary sport
- Improves joint health & flexibility
- Builds explosive strength and power
- Improves mental sharpness and mental resilience
- Prevents burnout and keeps training fun and engaging
- Great for Off-Season Maintenance
- Introduces you to new sports and different exercises
Best Cross Training Activities for Soccer Players
- Basketball
- Tennis
- Pickleball
- Boxing
- Kickboxing
- Wrestling
- Track and Field
- Stamina swimming
- Cycling
- Gymnastics
- Yoga and Pilates
Final Thoughts
To summarize, cross training is a powerful tool for soccer players looking to improve athletic performance, increase overall fitness levels, prevent injuries, and prevent burnout because it develops well-rounded athleticism by training different muscle groups, movement patterns, and energy systems that soccer alone doesn’t fully address. By cross-training consistently with activities like basketball, tennis, or swimming, as well as by doing your soccer specific training, you’ll not only directly become a more complete athlete, but indirectly become a better soccer player, and keep your training fresh, engaging, and fun.
FAQs
Is cross-training good for soccer?
Yes, cross training with other sports is great for soccer players because it improves athletic performance, cardiovascular fitness, and helps with injury prevention by working underused muscle groups and major muscle groups in different ways that soccer doesn’t work them.
To implement a cross training program into your training regimen it is as simple as choosing a day of the week, such as your rest day and playing other sports lightly, using another sport as your warm up before a soccer session, or choosing a specific day to train another sport more intensely. Of course soccer is still your main priority but learning to enjoy and get better at other sports will help your overall soccer development.
What equipment do you need to do cross-training as a soccer, or football player?
The great thing about cross-training techniques is that you don’t need much training gear and equipment to get started because most activities can be done with minimal accessories like a basketball, tennis racket, pickle-ball racket, racket sports balls, access to a swimming pool, bike, and boxing gloves. Some equipment, like a tennis ball, can be used in different ways, such as playing other sports or rolling out your body so it is versatile and gives you more value for your money.
