Improving a Soccer Players First Step

In order to be a game changer on the soccer field, a soccer player's first step is their most important one. Their 1st step sets them up to either succeed or fail.

A quicker first step sets an offensive player up to score more goals, save or deflect a shot attempt as a defender and make an amazing save as a goalkeeper.

Here is why the first step is so important....since the game of soccer is a combination or series of short explosive 8-15 yard bursts, you need only several steps to cover that distance. When I see players are just a fraction of a second too late in getting to the ball, it is mostly because their first step was not explosive.

A player's first step sets in motion all other steps as well. Here are some of the challenges players incur with getting that explosive first step.

• If their body is too upright, that may force too short of a first step, which in turn will weaken their first step power.
• If their first step is too long, they probably are off balance and landed with their heel first causing them to not be able to push off powerfully from the front part of their foot.
• Players need to learn to use a powerful arm drive also to propel them forward explosively.
• Foot strike must be slightly behind the hips. A slight forward body lean allows this to occur more easily.

Once that first step is correct and explosive, (slight forward lean, landing on the front part of the foot, explosive arm drive , with a foot strike slightly behind the hips) the next 3-8 step will also fall into place allowing a soccer player to accelerate powerfully and explosively on the field at any given moment.

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Have a great day!

Gary

www.soccerandspeedcoach.com