Soccer Speed Drills

You won’t find too many people that will discount the value of speed to a soccer player. Increasing your speed means you can blow by defenders easier, beat challengers to the ball and make great runs to open space.

Developing more speed is not easy, but with some hard work, you can shave time off of your sprints.

Here’s a couple of drills to get you started:

Variable Start Sprints

Set up two cones 20 yards apart. This will be the distance for your standard sprint drills. You can pit multiple players against each other to raise the intensity of your sprints. By variable start, I mean have the players perform a task before they begin their sprint. For example, they could:

• Do 5 push ups, jump up and sprint
• Lay on your back, flip over and sprint
• Perform a header, then sprint
• Toss a ball to the player to volley back before they sprint

Downhill Sprints

Running down hill is a great way to develop leg speed and running coordination. find a hill that is steep enough to force your to run all out, but not so steep that you feel the need to slow yourself down to keep control. Walk back up to the top and start your spring again.

Uphill Sprints

Uphill sprints will help you develop power. NFL All-Time leading rusher Emmitt Smith was a big proponent of hill sprints. Beach runs in soft sand are also really good for developing acceleration. Make 10 yard sprints with plenty of rest in between.

Related posts:

1. Soccer Fitness and Conditioning Drills
2. Speed with the Soccer Ball
3. Soccer Speed Ladder Drills
4. What Does Soccer Speed Really Mean?
5. Soccer Endurance Training