Soccer coach says, "Cross country running ruins explosiveness"

s and b · 2010-08-06T21:38:15-04:00

A few months ago, I tried recruiting a few soccer players to run cross country (not the same season in my state). Many of them signed up, but none followed through and actually came out on the first official day. Tonight, a parent of one girl said that the coach had told the soccer players that cross country running would ruin their explosive speed. I said that not only does it NOT ruin their speed, it actually will dramatically improve their late-game speed through their improved aerobic ability and endurance. My understanding is that we are born with fast twitch and slow twitch muscles and, though we can train to improve either aspect, we can not diminish either muscle type. Is this correct? This coach is basically arguing that playing club soccer, which he is encouraging all of them to do, will improve their explosiveness more than a full season of xc. I'd like to hear some educated thoughts.

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9 years ago 07/09/2016 9:04pm EDT

re: An Opinion

Well he's pretty much correct. Cross country is bad for your fast-twitch muscles. Club soccer is "better" for soccer players, as long as they don't get burned out or an overuse injury (a high likelihood).

I had a kid run distance in track the past few years who plays soccer in the fall. Every time he ran a 4x400m, he'd do amazing. I tried talking him into training with the sprinters this year, and he was hesitant because he wanted more endurance for soccer (he also did club soccer in the spring and summer). I eventually talked him into how the explosive qualities of sprint training would help him in soccer. He did the sprints and was much better than he was at distance.

9 years ago 07/09/2016 10:07pm EDT

re: Mrinal

Mrinal wrote:
First of all you are retarded because soccer is the most famous sport on earth, soccer players run the most out of any sport, and if you don't know anything just shut up.

Do they run more than runners, little boy?

9 years ago 07/10/2016 5:23pm EDT

re: s and b

It depends on how you coach CC.

6 X 80 meters, jump roping, power plyometrics, and short hills should be a part of cross country and soccer programs at least one day per week. The only way to run improve your speed is to work at it.

Their is some evidence that extremely long runs work on all three energy systems which might include some speed endurance. But speed "Development is a different element.

9 years ago 07/10/2016 5:40pm EDT

re: Jed Clampett

RE: "Extremely long runs"How long is that? Are you saying that we might find some sprinters at the Western States 100? Obviously, I have taken this to the extreme, but running long distances causes the body to adapt to running extremely long distances. Just like playing the guitar makes one a better guitar player and not a better violin player. Agree with the soccer coach that it has a detrimental impact on explosiveness.

Jed Clampett wrote:
It depends on how you coach CC.
6 X 80 meters, jump roping, power plyometrics, and short hills should be a part of cross country and soccer programs at least one day per week. The only way to run improve your speed is to work at it.
Their is some evidence that extremely long runs work on all three energy systems which might include some speed endurance. But speed "Development is a different element.

9 years ago 07/10/2016 5:41pm EDT

re: s and b

Not training explosiveness leads to loss of explosiveness. End of thread.

9 years ago 09/15/2016 3:56pm EDT

re: Tyler the Creator

Tyler the Creator wrote:
Not training explosiveness leads to loss of explosiveness. End of thread.

So what's stopping anyone from training explosiveness? Easy enough to work into the schedule. Duh.

I'd write up the logical fallacy that people are using to "prove" that XC is bad for soccer, but y'all ain't worth my time.

9 years ago 05/04/2017 12:38pm EDT

re: logic is a lost art

9 years ago 05/06/2017 5:11am EDT

re: Trond

Gareth Bale has been injured 19 times since he came to Madrid. One wonders if something is wrong with his training.

That said, aerobic fitness is crucial in football and part of the reason the US sucks at football is that the training is all wrong.

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