Summertime is here, and we’ve got just the workout for you! Summer may be the off-season for your league, but that doesn’t mean you have to go without training. If you’re lucky enough to live on a coast, here are five reasons you should be taking your game to the beach.
Conditioning
Running through sand is a serious form of endurance training. If you think conditioning days during the regular season are bad, try playing just one game of beach soccer. Whether you’re sprinting or just jogging, every step is a struggle. Nothing will get you into running shape like the beach.
Strength training
The sand is as great for regaining strength as it is for endurance, due to the resistance it creates. Pushing off the sand for every move makes you feel the burn. If you want to power up your ability to burst into a full sprint and stand your ground for a tackle, beach soccer is for you.
Expanding skill sets
Beach soccer is an excellent way to expand and fine-tune your entire skill set. You need to have good ball handling because of the uneven terrain. Switching directions on the pitch will be way easier after you’ve perfected it on the beach. You’ll learn so much about your own game from beach soccer.
Creativity
Because of all of the unpredictability of beach soccer, you’re forced to get creative. You have to try new things out because some of your most tried and true tricks just won’t work in the sand. Chipping is nearly impossible, so are most fine-touch finesse moves. You have to think outside the box to get the job done in this sport.
Fun
At the end of the day, beach soccer is some of the most fun you’ll have. It’s so high energy and so different from a regular pitch game. It will test and work you out like no pitch game could, but it’s also going to remind you just how fun soccer can really be.
So get out to the beach and enjoy some summer fun training!
Featured image via @ussoccer_ent on Instagram
_
GIRLS SOCCER NETWORK: YOUR SOURCE FOR GIRLS SOCCER NEWS