4.Reaction Speed

Speed »

The main requirement as to the player's physical abilities is the speed in the battle for discrimination. According to Grosser (1994) and based on cognitive procedures in sport, velocity is the ability of maximal strength, will and functionality of the neuromuscular system to achieve the highest possible reaction and motion speeds under certain conditions. This gives rise to six (6) forms of physical velocity occurrence which are:

• Reaction speed
• Speed ​​of activity
• Speed frequency
• Power
• Resistance to power
• Maximum speed resistance

Speed »

In a football match, the stimuli that the athlete receives and are called to respond are visually (placement of other players, ball ...), acoustics (player voices, referee whistle, viewers ...), and kinesthetic (positioning of the player acting, ...).

High-level football players reduce response time by selecting the most important information each time, understanding the action of the other players and the route of the ball quickly. So the visuals are the stimuli they receive in most of them during a match.

Based on the above, the best way to improve is to overload this training stimulus with exercises I have created and performed in my teams.

Speed »

Follow the exercises below to help your players react quickly to the visual stimulus by maximizing their potential.

EXERCISE 1

Players are divided into couples where one gives the stimulus by tapping on points on the ground and the other follows.

Exercise duration: 4 reps x 5''

Stop: 30''

EXERCISE 2

The players are divided into rows and the coach gives the stimulus pointing to the players a color. They must move with sprint in this direction.

Exercise duration: 4 reps x 5 meters

Stop: 30''

Speed »

The research data of the reaction speed training and its training methods concern the Greek Super League U20, U17 and U15 team and will be published shortly by Mr. Papadakis and his colleagues.