Soccer players participate in training a few times a week. By incorporating the three types of soccer practice into their weekly schedule, they can develop different attributes like game sense, fitness, and skill. What are the three different types of soccer practice?
There are three types of soccer practice; tactical, physical, and technical. Each is different but essential to player development. Tactical practice covers strategy and soccer intelligence, physical practice increases fitness levels via conditioning drills, and technical practice develops player skills and attributes like passing and shooting.
Keep reading for more information on the three different types of soccer practice. I will cover each type in detail, highlighting their differences and individual benefits.
I also have links throughout leading to separate articles that discuss each type of soccer practice in even greater detail.
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What are the Different Types of Soccer Practice?
The different types of soccer practice implement varying aspects of soccer into a training session. Soccer players must understand the game and be physically fit enough with good technical ability. They can impact the game positively with all three of these characteristics. What types of training do they use to achieve this?
The different types of soccer practice are tactical, physical, and technical. Each focuses on another aspect of soccer: gameplan and game IQ, fitness, and ability, respectively. Tactical training sessions involve a hands-on coaching approach. Physical sessions incorporate fitness, and technical sessions improve individual ability.
Without the different types of soccer practice, players wouldn’t be well-rounded. Coaches should aim to include all three types of soccer practice in a team’s training regimen.
You can practice physical and technical training at once. Tactical training sessions discuss game plans, strategies, and other housekeeping things that don’t typically involve a ball or much moving around.
The three types of soccer training
Soccer training can be split into three different categories. Each trains players in different aspects of the game, but all of them are important for improving as a player.
Related: 7 Tips to Become a Better Soccer Player
Here are the three different types of soccer practice:
- Tactical
- Physical
- Technical
Tactical soccer training
Tactical soccer practices are a great way to prepare for an upcoming match or discuss strategy. Coaches often use tactical training sessions to discuss the team’s formation and how to play in it.
Tactical soccer practices focus on a team’s overall strategy. Generally, these sessions are built to discuss the formation, when to press the ball on defense, and where players should always be on the field. Additionally, coaches can have their team watch film of them or an upcoming opponent to prepare for a match.
Related: Tactical Soccer Training – Everything You Need to Know
These types of practices usually don’t involve much on-the-ball training. During these sessions, players concentrate on developing a greater sense of how to play the game specific to the team’s structure and the coach’s goals.
A subtype of tactical training is a film session. At higher levels, coaches will bring their team together to watch film or video of them or another team during a practice or game to analyze it, note potential adjustments, point out bad habits, establish weaknesses in the opposition, and prepare for an upcoming match.
Film sessions are a type of tactical session used to watch a team’s previous practices or games. It’s a way to look at your team’s past mistakes during games to fix them in the future, and if you have the opportunity to watch another team’s film, it’s a way to exploit an opponent’s weaknesses.
Physical soccer training
Soccer is one of the most physically demanding sports in the world. Soccer players must be physically fit to execute strategies and play at a high level. Physical soccer practices ensure a team is in shape enough to play to its full potential.
Physical soccer practices are designed to increase fitness levels. They incorporate conditioning and agility drills to help players get in better shape. Physical training sessions sometimes include a soccer ball. Generally, if they have a ball, it’s usually during finishing drills, keep-away, or small-sided scrimmages.
Related: Physical Soccer Training – Everything You Need to Know
Fitness levels are an essential aspect of soccer. Players must be in top physical condition to play at high levels and their roles on the field. Physical training sessions can be done alone or with a team. They usually include short sprints with and without the ball, shuttle drills, and agility ladders.
Physical practices can use soccer balls to simulate what it’s like to play during a game when you’re tired and your legs are weak. In this case, players will be prepared when such a detrimental moment occurs during a match.
Physical practices can be taxing on a player’s body. Be sure to warm up before conditioning or running to reduce the risk of getting hurt. This type of training is also convenient in that it can be added to the end of a tactical or technical training session and doesn’t require much time to complete.
Technical soccer training
A soccer player’s technical skills are refined during technical training. Players can improve their soccer playing abilities through focused and practical technical training.
Technical practice is a type of soccer practice concentrating on players’ technical ability. Technical training is the most common type of soccer practice and involves passing, shooting, and dribbling drills individually or with a team, emphasizing individual development.
Related: Technical Soccer Training – Everything You Need to Know
Technically-sound players have excellent dribbling, shooting, and passing skills. Players can improve their technical skills during these sessions to play better during games.
This type of soccer practice is integral to player development. It also builds team chemistry.
| Tactical | Physical | Technical |
|---|---|---|
| Develop a greater understanding of the sport | Increase overall fitness levels | Develop skills (dribbling, shooting, passing, ball control, etc.) |
| Discuss team-oriented strategy and tactics | Can incorporate soccer balls to simulate game-like scenarios | Become a better all-around player |
| Review past game films to address mistakes and bad habits | Shorter; can be added onto the end of another type of training | Build chemistry with teammates |