Developing Coordination with Youth Age Players – Part 2 of 3

Part II (Motor Coordination and Agility)

Motor coordination – the combination of body movements created with the kinematic (such as spatial direction) and kinetic (force) parameters that result in intended actions. Such movements usually smoothly and efficiently work together. Motor coordination can occur between subsequent parts of the same movement and movements of several limbs. Motor coordination involves the integration of processes ranging from how muscles interact with the skeletal system to neural processes controlling them both in the spine and the brain. (Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

We use a formula for all of the players we train, so that they understand exactly what we are trying to accomplish when it comes to individual, global, and corporate coordination. Speed + Control = Agility.

Agility –  the ability to change the body’s position efficiently, and requires the integration of isolated movement skills using a combination of balance, coordination, speed, reflexes, strength, endurance and stamina. (Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

You cannot have agility without coordination, and therefore you cannot have a functioning dynamic soccer player without agility! I have often been asked when the best time to develop this coordination should occur. The answer is quite simple, AS SOON AS THE CHILD STARTS PLAYING SOCCER!

A Clinical Study issued by Iowa State University in 1990 suggests the following when it comes to Physical Fitness for preschool and kindergarten age players, “Regular physical activity…may: “

1) Improve a child’s fitness, in both health-related and skill-related areas.

2) Build fundamental motor skills like running, jumping, or skipping. (coordination)

3) Aid developmental growth. (coordination)

4) Increase awareness of the body in space. (coordination)

5) Reinforce a good self-concept through participation in success-oriented tasks.

6) Enhance language skills.

7) Strengthen social skills.

8 ) Encourage expressive/imitative thought and problem-solving.

9) Instill a love for movement (coordination)

Coordination and agility programs, therefore, must be based on movement, balance, and the development of agility. Introducing new motor skills that challenge the child will help them to learn good physical habits that they’ll use for a lifetime. With dynamic movements, which progress to the use of speed rings, and   ladders, all of our activities have the same goal in mind.

WARM UP COORDINATION

Exercise #3 foot/foot/clap – Here is another great coordination exercise to start using with your travel age players. We use this exercise to stress the 90° angles of the knees, and a dynamic stretch of the outside of the thigh muscles. As the player jogs, they bring their knees to a 90° angle and then touch the side of their foot. They begin first with the left, then right, and then they clap. As they do so they should be shouting; “Foot, Foot, Clap”.

LADDER EXERCISE

This next exercise is commonly referred to as the icky shuffle. It is performed in a triple fashion. The players begin at the base of the ladder and move laterally from rope to rope. As they progress, they place two feet into the box and one foot out. Each player must keep their “set” open, maintain leverage (head and shoulders inside the rope), and must be square with the end of the ladder. As they step out, make sure they are on the ball of the foot, not the blade, and they must sink their hips to ensure good movement and center of gravity.  This is a great exercise for quickness, and should eventually be incorporated for not only coordination, but speed as well.

Side to Side (triples)

Ladder - Side to Side (Triples)

Emphasis

a)       Lateral Speed

b)       Increased Foot Speed

c)       Center of Gravity (body management)

d)       Dorsiflexion

e)       Knee and Ankle Protection

f)        Reduction of Wasted Body Movement

In my next installment I will have some basic foot moves and drills that we use to develop individual coordination, as well as corporate coordination with the ball.

Yours in Speed and Soccer,

Billy Elias

The following information comes from the manual entitled “The Beautiful Game – Philosophy For Developing The Complete Soccer Athlete”, written by Billy Elias

Copyright © 2009 Billy Elias, United Speed Clinic. All rights reserved

ISBN 144867347X

Printed in the United States of America

Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a revival system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise), without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above author of this book.

Picture Credit – Billy Elias

Tagged as: coordination, development, players, youth