"In England they spend hours doing shuttles, sprints all without a ball. Although it does get you fit it never compares to the training back home, we play ssg that are very intense and we bring in conditions to make us work even harder, such as you are not allowed to stop running or you give the other team a goal. The training helps you become fitter,but develops your technique as well."

I completely agree with this statement. Playing football with a lot of effort is far more fun than shuttles, also you still get all the fitness you need. Pro players are a little different to us though, they have loads of time to train in gyms etc. Children will definitely become better players if they play more. When you are spending 1-2 hours doing fitness work without a ball even at U17 you are denying them the 1000s of touches that will improve them.

If you need to use fitness work without a ball, then I would say you are not playing the right ssg to get the fitness levels up. I play a game of 6v6 with U16 where you have to run at 3/4 pace for 4minutes, unless you have the ball, it is played on a larger than normal area, 70x30 so to allow long runs and the chance for them to practice long balls, then they rest for 4 minutes whilst the rest of the squad play. The game is a killer, try it or try this game.

 3v3 on a 30x15/20 the rest of your team are stood right around the edges of the pitch with a ball in there hands, every player is available for a wall pass only. Inside the area are gates 4 or 5 no more than a metre wide. Teams have to make as many passes through the gates as possible in an allowed time. The game works them hard because of the competitive element, but also because there is never a time that the ball is not out of play, because as soon as it leaves the pitch a ball is kicked in immediately. Coach and players around should get involved with encouraging them to work hard.    

I MUST THANK MY FATHER FOR ALL THE COACHING HE DID NOT GIVE ME !

I both agree and disagree with the "it makes a difference and it doesn't" camps, Why? becauses all kids are different and have a different excercise background.

I started an U15  B team last year, we already have a well established A team. Some lads who turned p couldn't do 1 lap of the pitch, some managed easily, when I talked them it emerged that did pe at school but that was it, home to playstations.So we trained 2/3 times a week every week, even through the summer and for the first 10 mins we did warm ups and  the 15 mins fitness again depending on the response from the lads( had they had pe that day for example) I have to add that where possible we trained for 90 minutes including a game.

Continuing through the season but only twice a week Does in my opinion, build on NATURAL energy/pe and all.

The point I really agree with is it builds the team and work ethic.It also provides a great point to start focusing on the technique part of the session

I agree a wee bit with what you're saying about the need for fitness.  I think it depends on where you are in your season.  naturally early on or preseason you need to be going into it with the intentions to build up the stamina it takes to go the full match.  mid way through or near the end you don't need to focus nearly as much time on it in training.  plenty of sessions can incoporate fitness with a ball though to keep it fun especially if you're coaching weans

You keep doing things the same way, you'll keep getting the same results

John WWW97s

John

In response to the quote regarding how we do things in this country compared to abroad what i would say in Ian Rush's book he claimed he did a lot more small sided and ball work with Liverpool than he ever did with Juventus as they focused a lot on fitness and tactics.

I believe the work rate which is bred into our game (British) is no bad thing and our technique seems way too over analysed.

Football is as much about hard work and team work as it is anything else and although improving technique is 100% vital and good for the game lets not over look the parts of the game which any average playing will be doing for the other 88 minutes they dont have the ball!

From U13 and upwards some teams within our club still use the gym,while others prefer to mix it in with the training,IMO physical training of some sort is definetly required for kids who are playing on full size pitches and more so as they get older,as for younger ones it benefits them to gradually introduce stretches and so to warm up's but no need for laps around the pitch which does happen at some Clubs.

For sure I agree on this. In a 2 hour session, I will dedicate up to 40 minutes on 'fitness' work.

Not that they would know they are doing any, be imaginative and make it fun, even older players will enjoy the sort of fitness games you can find on the net. Build in an element of intensity into your practices too.

I don't mean, run around the cones before you enter the drill (although sometimes that works).

In a passing and support drill for example. Have players passing to eachother THROUGH small coned gates. Players will often find they have to curve a run around the gate at high speed to receive a pass. Ban players from standing still by issuing a forfeit (2 pressups, 2 star jumps etc, something very short) and they will tire very quickly. Then set them a target, 'twenty more in 30 seconds or we keep going'. It will spur them on to achieve a target, sharpen their skill, get more touches and 'earn' a rest. All at the same time.

I hate laps. If you want them to run for half an hour, set up a cross country run and go with them yourself.