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In addition to the high level of skill required to play soccer, to be a successful player you need excellent aerobic endurance fitness. Other important fitness components are speed and particularly repeat sprint ability and agility. However, which of these are more important?

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Below is a discussion about the fitness requirements for soccer, which can help with developing training programs for this sport, and for interpreting fitness testing results and determining the relative strengths and weaknesses of a player. See more on fitness for soccer.

You Need Good Endurance But Be Quick Too

We have a poll about the component of fitness most important for success in soccer. Out of the options of Body Size and Composition, Muscle Strength, Muscular Endurance, Power, Speed / Quickness, Agility, Flexibility, Balance and Coordination, and Cardiovascular Endurance, the factors which are considered most important by the readers of this site are cardiovascular (aerobic) endurance and speed/quickness, followed by agility and coordination. You can add your vote too and see all the results.

You Need to be Agile

In a similar poll, we have asked people to rate the 12 factors of success for sports. Visitors to this site have rated each of these factors for soccer players, and the most important according to them is agility. Good agility itself requires good strength, power, speed, reaction, and coordination, all of which are highly rated too. You can also add your ratings of Which Factors Make Successful Soccer Players, and see the latest results.

Most Important Factors for Success in Order of Importance (updated June 2014)

1. Skill and Technique.
2. Speed / Quickness, Analytic & Tactical Ability
3. Agility, Balance & Coordination, Motivation & Self Confidence
4. Coping with Pressure Situations, Reaction Time, Aerobic Endurance.
5. Strength & Power
6. Flexibility
7. Body Size and Composition.

Are You an Expert?

Coaches, scientists and players who work with the sport will have a greater understanding of the physical and other demands of football. We are fortunate to have some feedback from Afrim Mehmeti (PE and Sport Professor - Master degree Ex football player and coach for junior players). He has given his ratings of importance for a range of fitness components for bowling. He believes that all these factors are important and good vision also is very important factor.

• Extremely Important:Speed / Quickness, Agility, Reaction Time, Analytic & Tactical Ability, Motivation & Self Confidence, Coping with Pressure Situations and Skill and Technique
• Very Important: Aerobic Endurance, Strength & Power, Flexibility,Balance & Coordination.
• Moderately Important:Body Size and Composition.

I have found that asking all site visitors for their opinion, while it is interesting, does not always lead to accurate results. Its good to know what the experts think.

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Related Pages

• anthropometry for football
• fitness testing for football
• MLS Player Combine
• Who Is The Fittest Footballer (Soccer Player) Ever?
• Soccer Polls