Women's soccer training techniques 

Women's soccer is the fastest growing segment in sports.

In North America alone it supercedes all other national sports in increases to membership per year, and shear volume of participants.

The ball got rolling in 1994 with the World Cup being held in the USA and the Women's World Cup in 1999 saw an explosion of the sport all over the world not only in North America.

Most interesting to note is that the traditional Football (soccer) powerhouses around the world are not well represented or dominant in the world of Women's soccer.

Technical Aspects

Technical aspects of the sport have grown faster because of the lessons learn from the past.

As the newest and latest training methodology is so readily available, the improvements made in women's soccer are very impressive. You can find an enormous amount of information today that wasn't readily available 20 years ago.

We can all thank the internet for the massive volume of materials being put forth. Communication is the key to your success, and finding what works for you is the key.

One of the keys to your success will be in training female athletes.

Social Aspects

The social aspects of women's sports differ from men's, and soccer is no exception.

Female athletes require social time right before a practice or a game. If you listen to the differences in topics between male and female athletes before a game you will generally find that females are less focused on the opposing team and more focused on their own team. This can also include their personal lives that they have to contend with.

Males are sizing up the competition and posturing for individual performance first. Females are usually concerned with internal team dynamics and then will focus on the competition.

The atmosphere of camaraderie on the day's events is important for the development of the social fabric of the team.

Males require less "talk-time", and as a result can fall into the practice or game a little quicker. If you remember this then the women's and girls' practice sessions will go smoother. Don't fight it, or control it, accept it. Your team will grow stronger and you will be a better person for it.

Remember these are generalizations, and don't apply to every situation. They also apply less to highly competitive athletes.

Mental Aspects

At game time both male and female athletes will have their heads into the game.
The routes to get there however will have been different, with females athletes feeling more like compatriots and less like combatants as the males do.

This has all been as a result of the socialization process that each gender has endured since birth.This process may explain why there are lower rates of fouls and infractions during the women's games than the men's games.

Self doubt and lower self esteem in females results in lower levels of play and activity. However, while observing males, these issues are combated by harder tackles and more physical play. It appears that emotional control would be at opposite ends of the spectrum when dealing with levels of performance.

As a direct result, attentional control is affected by the lack of, or over compensation in performance. The female athletes take it out on themselves, they internalize and focus inward, while the males take it out on their opponents. Males will then display more displaced aggression as a result. All of these athletes and players need help with re-focusing the attentional and emotional aspects of the game, but while employing different cues and techniques.

This uniqueness to the different approaches makes it understandable for the different genders. Learning to communicate more effectively becomes a powerful tool in the development of a team.

For links to great women's soccer gear, go to women's soccer gear.

Physical Aspects

Females have been programmed to view themselves as a specific body type. This is specifically true in the Western World where fashion and beauty stereotypes are upheld to a certain standard.

Sports and soccer in general are changing these views, globally, with an emphasis on strength, agility and power taking the driver's seat.

Beauty is ballet on the grass,... with a soccer ball of course.

Women's health has started to revolve around more activity and nutritional habits, rather than the limitations of diet control as being the only option.

The rapid rise of women participating in soccer and sports in general has left some unanswered questions. Why is there a higher rate of knee injuries in women over men? The percentage of these injuries is so much higher that there seem to be two major components that revolve around these issues. Anatomical and mechanical realities are not being addressed, nor is the corrective training methodology associated with these issues.

There are on going studies that will divulge some answers. OUR awareness will come from examining better overall fitness and training methods.

Check out the latest of news on women's soccer with:

W-League

Women's FA

Continue to grow and explore the unique ways to coach female athletes.

For links to help you with this go to Womens Soccer Links.