The game of soccer is incredibly demanding. You must be able to sprint, explode to the ball and change direction—and maintain these skills for a long duration.

So, to improve your game on the pitch, you must develop your overall athleticism, including strength, speed, power and endurance. And the best time to do this is during the off-season.

Below is a six-month workout program that you can do during the off-season. It is appropriate for both high school and collegiate soccer players. It is divided into three phases (month 1, months 2-3 and months 4-6), which build upon each other to stimulate training gains.

Soccer Workout Plan

Month 1

The first month is meant to help get you into shape and begin developing fundamental speed and agility techniques. This is a three-day per week program, with the first day focusing on strength, the second on speed and agility, and the third on endurance.

Day 1

• Back Squats: 3×12-20
• Romanian Deadlifts: 3×12-20
• Dumbbell Bench Press: 3×12-20
• Pull-Ups: 3xMax
• Standing Military Press: 3×12-20

Day 2

10-15 minutes of speed and agility technique drills

• Sprint to Lateral Shuffle: 3×30 meters (switch sides every 5 meters)
• Sprint to Backpedal: 3×30 meters
• Standing Long Jump: 1×5
• Counter-Movement Jump: 1×5 (stick landing)

Day 3

Do each exercise with a med ball. Perform each for 30 seconds and repeat the circuit three times.

• Clean and Press
• Chest Pass
• Overhead Throw
• Twist and Throw
• Med Ball Squat (hold ball in front)
• Med Ball Romanian Deadlift (hold ball in front)
• Med Ball Lunges (hold ball in front)
• Med Ball Crunches (hold ball over chest)
• Med Ball Leg Raises (hold ball between feet)
• Half-field Game: 20-30 minutes

Months 2-3

The program during months two and three expands to five days per week. Three days are devoted to strength and metabolic conditioning, and the other two days focus on speed, agility and plyometrics.

Day 1

• Back Squats: 3×12-20
• Romanian Deadlifts: 3×12-20
• Dumbbell Bench Press: 3×12-20
• Pull-Ups: 3xMax
• Standing Military Press: 3×12-20
• Sprints: 10×30 with 20 seconds walking recovery between sprints

Day 2

10-15 minutes of speed and agility technique drills

• Sprint to Lateral Shuffle: 3×30 meters (switch sides every 5 meters)
• Sprint to Backpedal: 3×30 meters
• Standing Long Jump: 1×5
• Counter-Movement Jump: 1×5 (stick landing)

Day 3

Do each exercise with a med ball. Perform each for 30 seconds and repeat the circuit three times.

• Clean and Press
• Chest Pass
• Overhead Throw
• Twist and Throw
• Med Ball Squat (hold ball in front)
• Med Ball Romanian Deadlift (hold ball in front)
• Med Ball Lunges (hold ball in front)
• Med Ball Crunches (hold ball over chest)
• Med Ball Leg Raises (hold ball between feet)
• Half-field Games: 20-30 minutes

Day 4

10-15 minutes of speed and agility technique drills

• Sprint to Lateral Shuffle: 3×30 meters (switch sides every 5 meters)
• Sprint to Backpedal: 3×30 meters
• Standing Long Jump: 1×5
• Counter-Movement Jump: 1×5 (stick landing)

Day 5

Do each exercise with your body weight. Perform each for 30 seconds and sprint for 30 seconds between exercises. Repeat the circuit three times.

• Squats
• Front Lunges
• Reverse Lunges
• Side Lunges
• Inchworms
• Walk on Toes
• Walk on Heels
• Wheelbarrows
• Bear Crawl
• Push-Ups
• Pull-Ups
• Dips

Months 4-6

This phase also is also based on a five-day plan. However, the exercises are more complex and the workouts are more difficult to accomplish to promote increased fitness levels.

Day 1

• Hang Clean: 3×6 @ 60% (above knees)
• Front Squats: 3×8-12 @ 70%
• Back Raises: 3×15-20
• Incline Dumbbell Press: 3×8-12
• Single-Arm Dumbbell Rows: 3×8-12 each arm
• Seated Military Press: 3×8-12
• Sprints: 2x10x20 meters with 20 seconds walking recovery between sprints and 5 minutes recovery between sets

Day 2

10-15 minutes of speed and agility technique drills

• Sprint to Lateral Shuffle: 3×30 meters (switch sides every 5 meters)
• Sprint to Backpedal: 3×30 meters
• Standing Long Jump: 1×5
• Counter-Movement Jump: 1×5 (stick landing)

Day 3

• Dumbbell Bench Press: 3×12-15
• Dips: 3xMax
• Pull-Ups: 3xMax
• 3-in-1 Shoulders: 3×12-15
• Sprints:
• 1×20 meters, 10 seconds recovery
• 1×40 meters, 20 seconds recovery
• 1×60 meters, 40 seconds recovery
• 1×80 meters, 60 seconds recovery
• 2×100 meters, 60 seconds recovery
• 1×80 meters, 60 seconds recovery
• 1×60 meters, 40 seconds recovery
• 1×40 meters, 20 seconds recovery
• 1×20 meters

Day 4

10-15 minutes of speed and agility technique drills

• Sprint to Lateral Shuffle: 3×30 meters (switch sides every 5 meters)
• Sprint to Backpedal: 3×30 meters
• Standing Long Jump: 1×5
• Counter-Movement Jump: 1×5 (stick landing)

Day 5

• Back Squats: 3×12-15 @ 60%
• Lunges: 3×12-15
• Good Mornings: 3×12-15
• Back Raises: 3×12-15
• Calf Raises: 3×12-15
• Half-field Games: 20-30 minutes

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Increase Your Soccer Speed With 4 Sprint Drills