CHAPTER 8: USING BALL-ORIENTED EXERCISES TO DEVEELOP

AEROBIC AND ANAEROBIC ENDURANCE

Soccer is regarded as an intermittent-type sport that requires players to perform a number of high-
intensity actions over the course of a game. One the biggest concerns for the conditioning coach is
fatigue. During this state, both the work-rate and the amount of high-intensity actions significantly
decrease. Fatigue is also associated with impaired technical proficiency and decision-making ability.

To minize the occuurence of fatigue in players, the coach must develop their recovery ability. Indeed,
how well a player performs will also influenced by their capacity to recover from the many energy-
consuming bouts. On this note, soccer is considered to be a random sport, because the recovery periods
between these actions can range from a few seconds to a couple of minutes. In addition, unlike some
sports or fitness activities, the recovery between maximum-effort bursts are active in nature, as players
perform some form of low or moderate-intensity activity such as jogging or walking.

If we recall from Chapter 1, energy for short duration, high-intensity actions is supplied by the
Phosphagen (PCr) and fast glycolytic systems and is generated anaerobically; whereas lower intensity
activities that are longer in duration are fueled by the slow glycolytic and oxidative systems, which
produce energy aerobically.

In order to cope with the energy requirements of the game and delay the onset of fatigue, it is imperative
that you enhance both the capacity and efficiency of all energy systems to generate energy. To properly
do this, you must choose exercises that target the appropriate intensity levels, work durations and
recovery periods. Table 8.1 summarizes how each of these variables can be appropriately manipulated to
emphasize the different energy systems during training.