Soccer Specific Strength &

Conditioning

Chris Hinton
 Program
Exercise Progression #1 Progression #2 Type Sets Time/Reps
A1. 2 Foot Broad Jumps 2 continuous jumps 3 continuous jumps Plyometric 2-3 3
A2. Push-ups Move to toes or increase reps Use soccer ball Upper Strength 2-3 Max

A3. Fwd Lunge (Static) Soccer ball Overhead (Static) Soccer Ball Overhead (Dynamic) Lower Strength 2-3 8-12ES
A4. Front Plank Alt lift 1 limb Alt Lift 2 limbs (same time) Core 2-3 30-90 sec
B1. Single Leg Laterals w/hold Increase Distance Increase Distance & Height Plyometric 2-3 8ES
B2. Inchworms Increase Body Extension Increase Body Extension Full Body Strength 2-3 5-10
B3. Eccentric Hamstring Curls NA NA Lower Strength 2-3 4-8
B4. Side Plank Arm/Leg Outstretched Reach Under Core 2-3 30-90 sec
C1. Jump Squat w/Stick 2 continuous jumps 4 continuous jumps Plyometric 2-3 3-6
C2. Single Leg V-sit 2 leg V-sit 1-2 sec hold Core 2-3 Max
C3. Bowler Squat Use Soccer Ball Increase Range of Motion Lower Strength 2-3 8-12ES
C4. Ball Toe Touch Hold 2 sec Hold 5 sec Core 2-3 Max
C5. Single Leg Bulgarian Squat Pause at bottom Small hop at top Lower Strength 2-3 8-12ES

Exercise notes
A1. Land soft and in control to reduce forces on knees B1. Be sure balance is maintained and landings are soft
A2. Maintain good form for all reps B2. Keep core engaged and only go out as far as comfortable
A3. Toes behind knees with upright body posture B3. Caution here! Do not over-exert stay within ability range
A4. Ensure body stays flat and stable B4. Be sure to maintain good form
C1. Be sure knees do not dip inwards. Stay in control C3. Balance and stability key
C2. Powerful movement, stay in control C4. Maintain Core Engagement
C5. Stability and Balance Key. Keep knee behind toe

Mini Band Work

Exercise Sets Reps Rest Notes

Monster Walks 2-3 max 60-90 sec Move from the hip without bending at the knees
Laterals 2-3 max 60-90 sec Push feet laterally focusing on glute engagement

Band Squats 2-3 max 60-90 sec Keep glutes activated to ensure knees do not dip inwards
Exercise A1. Avoid
2 Foot Broad Jumps
 Feet should be shoulder width/hip
width apart
 Be sure to use arms to help
accelerate body during jump
 Land softly by ensuring knees
bend to lower impact forces
 Knees must always track with
toes; do not let knees dip inward.

 Start with single jumps resetting

before each consecutive jump
 Once technique is sound try
putting a couple jumps together
 Remember, as difficulty increases
impact forces also increase so be
sure to maintain proper
technique
Exercise A2.

Push-ups

 Maintain rigid body posture (core

engaged)
 Lower body in controlled manner
to approximately 90 degrees at the
elbow
 Body should move as one solid
unit, avoid breaking at the hip
 Movement can also be done from
the knees in order to build
strength before progressing to the
toes.
Exercise A3. Static Forward Lunge
Forward Lunge
 Start in standing position with feet
about hip width apart
 Step forward keeping weight on
the heel of the front foot and knee
behind toe
 Torso should remain upright with
core engaged to help with stability
and balance
 Push out of bottom position by
kicking backwards with the lead
leg
 Alternate legs and repeat
Lunge Progression
 Progress lunge by adding
instability holding a ball overhead
 Further progression would involve
doing a walking lunge (start with
static/stationary lunge)
Exercise A4.

Front Plank
 Engage core
 Flatten out body ensuring no break
in hips.
 Stabilize shoulder blades
 Hold this position for given
amount of time ensuring proper
posture is maintained
Exercise B1.

Single Leg Laterals with Hold

 Start on single leg in a stable
running posture
 Core should be engaged to assist
with balance and stability
 Jump laterally off single leg landing
softly on other leg
 Ensure knees bend on landing to
reduce forces impacting joints
 Try to land and balance on single
leg (2-3 sec) before making next
jump
 Progress difficulty by increasing
distance and height of jumps . Do
not progress until shorter
distances mastered.
 Also maintain tension in muscles
of the leg while jumping and
landing. Focus on hamstring and
quad activation to reduce forces
on knees
Exercise B1.

Single Leg Laterals with Hold

*Be easy on knees by landing softly*
Exercise B2. Start
Inchworms
 Start with soft knees (bent) and
hands out front in contact with
floor
 Avoid excessive rounding of the
back
 Core should be engaged
Exercise B2. Mid-point
Inchworm
 Walk hands out extending body
 Feet should stay planted and core
should stay engaged
Exercise B2. Finish
Inchworms
 Walk hands out until unable to go
any further while maintaining
good technique
 Once at end point walk toes in
until back at starting point
 Be careful to work within limits
and avoid excessive extension
(flattening of body) which may be
hard on the lower back and
shoulders.
Exercise B3. Start
Eccentric Hamstring Curls
 Start on knees with partner
bracing ankles
 Core must be engaged

 Be sure partner holding legs is

heavy and strong enough to
support your weight.
Exercise B3. Finish
Eccentric Hamstring Curls
 Slowly lower body towards the
ground
 Once max lowering distance is
reached allow body to drop to
the mat with hands out front to
brace for impact.
 Push body back to starting
position and repeat.
Exercise B4. Holding Position
Side Plank
 Be sure core is engaged
 Body should be in a straight line
from feet to head
 No breaking at waist allowing
hips to drop
Exercise B4. Progression #1
Side Plank (Reach Under)
 Progress plank by adding reach
under
 All biomechanics remain the same
 Stay as stable as possible while
reaching under
 After reach is done return to
starting position and repeat
Exercise B4. • Progression #2
Side plank (Raised arm/leg)
 Maintain stability and balance
 Keep plank the same as normal
plank just elevate arm/leg
 Core engagement essential to
maintain stability and balance
Exercise C1. Start
Jump Squat with Stick
 Feet at hip width
 Weight should be mid-foot
 Arms back to be thrown forward
and up during jump
 Flat back and core engaged
Exercise C1. Jump
Jump Squat with Stick
 Be sure to fully extend body during
jump
 Jump only as high as can be
controlled on landing .
 Landing should be stable and
balanced with knees tracking in
line with toes.
Exercise C1. Landing
Jump Squat with Stick
 Land lightly (big knee bend) to
reduce impact forces
 Hold stick at approx 45 degrees at
the knee for 3-5seconds
 Reset to starting position and
repeat jump
*Be sure knees do not dip in during
take-off or landing
Exercise C2. Start
Single Leg V-sit
 Start by laying on back with arms
and legs fully extended
Exercise C2. Finish
Single Leg V-sit
 Bend at waist bringing right hand
to left leg and then alternate and
bring left hand to right leg
 Important that shoulder blades
come off the ground during each
rep
 Do not just raise the leg and then
have hand contact while
shoulder blades still in contact
with the ground
 Be sure that there is a slight
rotation in the core while
coming across body to ensure all
muscles of the core are being
activated.
 Control the movement in both
directions being sure legs don’t
slam back to the ground after
contact with hand.
Exercise C2. V-Sit (Bilateral)
Single Leg V-sit (Progression)
 Same starting position as SL V-sit
 Progression has both legs raised
at the same time
 Again very important that the
movement is controlled and that
the shoulder blades come off the
ground
 To progress from this point add in
holds at the top of the
movement (see picture)
 Stability , balance, & control key
to a good hold.
Exercise C3. Start (front view)
Bowler Squat
 Start on single leg balanced and
with core engaged
Exercise C3. Finish (side view)
Bowler Squat
 Bend forward at the waist while
bending the knee until ground can
be touched in front of and off to
the side of the foot on opposing
side of body than hand.
 Keep back as flat as possible by
loading the standing leg and
bending lowering body towards
the ground
 Avoid excessive spinal flexion
(rounding of back)
 Balance and stability key so ensure
core stays engaged
Exercise C3. Finish (front view)
Bowler Squat
 Be sure that knees track inline with
toes
 Try to complete all reps on single
leg before changing.
 Progress by setting down and
picking up objects (soccer ball,
kettlebell, dumbell, etc) in the
same spot that hand touches.
 Progress further by increasing
amount that knee bends and
reducing the amount of flexion
at the hips.
Exercise C4. Start
Ball Toe Touch
 Start with legs elevated and
shoulder blades in contact with
floor
Exercise C4. Finish
Ball Toe Touch
 Push shoulder blades off ground
until ball touches toes
 Shoulder blades fully contact
ground in between each repetition
 Progress by using a weighted ball
or by holding the position at the
top of the movement.
Exercise C5. Start
Single Leg Bulgarian Squat
 If benches are not available use a
partner to support non-working
leg
 Forward leg is working leg and
should take the majority of weight
 Weight should be focused on the
heel of the forward leg
 Knees do not push out in front of
toes
 Torso Upright with core engaged
 Hands on hips helps to force core
to stabilize and trains balance

Partners:
 Very stable at the leg and through
the torso (core engaged)
 Give feedback to squatter letting
them know if too much pressure
being put on the supporting leg
Exercise C5. Finish
Single Leg Bulgarian Squat
 Drop back knee towards the
ground until stretch felt in the
quad and hip flexor
 Try to get to 90 degrees at the
front knee
 Again make sure knee does not
push out in front of toe on lead
leg
 Movement should be controlled
and balanced
 Once at approx 90 degrees push
body back to starting position
ensuring that full hip extension
is attained (Straight leg) and that
the glute, hamstring, and quad are
contracted
 Knees must also track in-line
with toes at all times
 Final Note
 Be sure to master movements before progressing
 Always think ``Quality over Quantity``
 Don’t rush, it is very important to build proper movement patterns
 Strength & Conditioning is a very necessary piece of the puzzle to
make you better athletes and reduce your chance for injury.

*Any questions please let me know by email ([email protected])

or come see me in my office adjacent to the Fitness Center.

Enjoy!