Why Soccer Players are the Most Fit Athletes

June 21, 2010 - PRLog -- Soccer is a demanding sport which requires raw strength, lighting fast agility, endless endurance, and extreme flexibility.  Expert Houston Personal Trainer, Tom Jackobs explains, “If you really watch the movement of the players on the field, they put their bodies through some very demanding movements.  Going from stand still to full sprint, then quickly changing directions to chase that ball across a 360 by 225 foot field”.

Having such athleticism doesn’t have to be reserved for the elite soccer athletes.  Ordinary people can and should start training like an athlete at home and at the gym.  Training like an athlete will not only get an individual in great shape but will enhance their quality of life.  Every day movements will be easier when all muscles are firing at peak performance, even for the weekend athlete.

Sprinting and agility work which soccer players perform creates not only strong muscles but a strong heart as well.  It is imperative these athletes take the time to warm up before a game and practice.  Typically they will do dynamic stretching to warm up the tendons and ligaments to make sure they don’t injure themselves.  Everyday athletes should take note of this as many injuries are due to the lack of a proper warm up and cool down.  “I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen someone pull a hamstring while working out simply because they didn’t properly warm up”, comments Jackobs.

Individuals can benefit greatly by incorporating a soccer player workout in their normal workout program or as a workout program in and of itself.  Using light weights or no weights and higher repetitions during timed workout stations is the way the soccer players do it.  Pick 6 exercises, 2 Upper Body (Pushups and Shoulder Presses, 2 Lower Body (Lunges and Squats), an Abdominal exercise (Crunches), and a Cardio exercise (Mountain Climbers), do each for 30 seconds then at the end of the circuit rest for 30 seconds then repeat the 3 minute circuit 5 times, individuals may need to work up to 5 circuits over several weeks.

VO2 Max testing is a common test to determine an individual’s level of fitness, by measuring the maximal oxygen which can be utilized in one minute during maximal exercise.  The higher the number the higher cardiovascular endurance.  An average male’s VO2max is typically 40mL.kg.min, soccer players typically have between 51-62mL.kg.min.

Train like a soccer player and have optimal muscular endurance and cardiovascular health.

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Body3 Fitness is committed to the wellness of the overall person. Body3 Fitness Center focuses on nutrition, strength, and cardio training for optimal well-being of the individual. Owner Tom Jackobs brings extensive experience to the fitness mission.