AGILITY TRAINING FOR YOUNG ATHLETES

Developing coordination should be a major priority for coaches of players in the pre-puberty age group,
as this age range represents the time where the greatest improvements and learning of motor skills will
occur. In addition, coordination underlies all other qualities necessary for establishing a solid agility base.
The coach should use a combination of fun activities and basic agility exercises that emphasize
coordination and footwork. For players in the pre-puberty age group, when doing these basic agility
exercises, it is recommended that the first few times be done without the ball. This will allow them to
concentrate fully on the movements and get comfortable with the mechanics and technique.

Structured agility exercises involving rapid deceleration or changing direction after intense actions should
be avoided. Young children should develop the ability to change direction and slow down at their own
pace and by playing games such as tag or stuck in the mud. Participating in these games will teach the
nervous system to coordinate the muscles of the body more effectively; that is, neuromuscular adaptation.

For the pre-puberty age group, the coach should use no more than 2 or 3 agility exercise per practice
session. As was the case with older players, these activities should be placed early in the session after a
proper warm-up .Each exercise should have about 6 to 8 repetitions and the players should be allowed
plenty of rest between repetitions as well as between exercises. Having a structured or periodization
program is not recommended for these players. However, agility exercises should be placed in practice at
least once a week. As the young players master the simple patterns, more complex patterns can be
introduced.

As players progress to the adolescent age group, they naturally become stronger. As such, the coach can
place a greater emphasis on soccer-specific agility drills involving change of direction, decelerating and
reactivity. The gains in strength should also prompt the coach to introduce basic strength and power
training exercises into the overall conditioning program. These players should have a year or season-long
program set out for them and should follow the basic guidelines described in the section on agility
program design.