Introduction Course in Soccer Science and Performance

This introductory course has been designed to facilitate your learning in this field to the highest level, with tutorials from world-class experts who have coached players and clubs at the highest levels. Tutors on this course include Professor Vasilios Kalapothatakos, Nikki Crawley, Dr. Patrick Orme, and Chris Meek. This course in soccer science and performance will help you to understand the technical and tactical elements of the game. You will also gain a broad understanding of essential soccer performance components that make up successful coaching units and staffing structures to enable you to develop your players to achieve their full potential and team success.

Course Content

Module 1 The demands of professional soccer: physiological costs of the game

• Led by Professor Vasilios Kalapotharakos (past and present clubs include: Panionios FC, Panathinaikos FC, Asteras Tripolis FC, Shenzhen Ruby (China), Aris FC).
• Identify the physical demands of the game.
• Understand positional differences within match-play and training.
• Identify tactical differences in the physical output.
• Understand the challenges of coaching.

Module 2 Developing resilience in soccer: mental skills development

• Led by Nikki Crawley (past and present clubs include: Fulham FC Academy, Chelsea FC Academy).
• Understand what resilience is and why we should care.
• Resilience bandwidth and the environment.
• Challenging mindsets – predictability versus unpredictability.
• Psychological environment – pressure, development and awareness.

Module 3 Game model building and development: reinterpreting tactical periodisation

• Led by Dr. Alejandro Romero-Caballero (past and present clubs include: AD Colmenar Viejo, Cerceda CF).
• Understand tactical periodisation background.
• Implications and considerations of training methodology.
• Developing a game model.
• Structuring the microcycle.

Module 4 Injury reduction strategies in professional soccer

• Led by Dr. Patrick Orme (past and present clubs include: Bristol City FC, Liverpool FC, Everton FC).
• Increase knowledge about the types of injuries seen in soccer.
• Understand what can be done on the pitch to reduce the risk of injuries occurring.
• Identify what can be done in the gym to reduce the risk of these injuries happening.

Module 5 Leadership and culture for high performance soccer

• Led by Maximilian Lankheit (past and present clubs include: Seattle Sounders, San Francisco Giants, FC Nurnberg).
• Leadership and managing change.
• Group dynamics and team optimisation.
• Problem solving and systematic thinking.
• Developing high performance teams and performance models.

Module 6 Current trends in leading European soccer teams: in-possession

• Led by Chris Meek (past and present clubs include: The English Football Association, Leeds United FC, Huddersfield Town AFC).
• Goal scoring trends of the UEFA Champions League.
• Comparative analysis of goal scoring trends: case study.
• Analysing crosses and cutbacks within the game.
• Tactical differences – creating chances.

Module 7 Soccer nutrition and the role of the nutritionist

• Led by Matthew Jones (past and present clubs include: West Ham United FC, Stoke City FC, Chelsea FC Ladies, Saudi Arabia National Team, Brentford FC).
• Link between physical performance and nutrition.
• Soccer-specific nutrition.
• Nutritional periodisation.
• Nutritional analysis.
• Intervention and education.

Module 8 Competitive soccer training microcycle: structure and justification

• Led by Dr. Manuel Segovia (past and present clubs include: Cartagena SAD. Hercules CF, Chabab Rif).
• The evolution of competitive soccer demands.
• An example of a weekly training structure - working microcycle.
• Training session examples and specific content.
• Opposition analysis and game plan development.
• Technical-tactical-conditioning implication of the microcycle.