Essential Soccer Skills
Individual Skills 60 INDIVIDUAL SKILLS Anatomy of a player Like dancers and singers, soccer players’ bodies are their instruments, their means of performance and expression. Although professionals are generally getting taller and increasingly fitter, the game still offers space for a variety of physiques and specialisms. Key requirements | ANATOMY OF A PLAYER Although players vary in size and Eyes shape, all top-level players have certain Players need to anatomical requirements in common. read the game and judge speeds Strong leg muscles—the calf, thigh and distances muscles, and hamstrings—are the most important. Good upper-body strength is also vital. Deltoids These muscles power the arms and are useful for cushioning high balls Chest muscles This muscle group helps players to run and pass Abdominals Core inner-body strength is a prerequisite of the balance and posture required for top-level soccer Quadriceps The four muscles at the front of the thigh are the soccer player’s engine room, essential for running and kicking Groin Takes much of Ankles the muscle Must be stress caused strong to cope by shooting, with the stress so pre-match of constant stretching is vital changes of direction ,, NECK 61 A PLAYER’S INDIVIDUAL SKILLS MUSCLES ARE THE KEY ,,TO POWERFUL HEADING. BODY STRENGTH A player’s leg muscles do much of the work (and are the most | prone to injury), but a strong ANATOMY OF A PLAYER neck, spine, chest, abdominals, and deltoids are all important. Neck muscles The key to powerful heading, players need to work specifically on these muscles to strengthen them Spine Liable to take a lot of stress in a match, as a player braces and stretches for every turn Hamstrings Give flexibility to the knee and hip and allow the leg to stretch.
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