Ankle injuries can sideline even the best players with little warning. Soccer, in particular, demands a lot from the ankles, and the typical risk of injury is high. The best way to reduce that risk is with a few preventative measures.
Today I want to talk about how you can implement some of these measures with your players.
Movement proficiency is the foundation of injury prevention. We use the analogy of door hinges to explain how an athlete’s movement pattern relates to their resilience. If a door frame is square, the hinges can move largely stress-free, and will last a very long time. If the door frame is not square, the hinges are put under undue stress and break down. If an athlete does not move well, they will eventually break down.
There are many approaches to improving movement, however as a soccer coach you probably don’t have time for many of them. Here is one you can easy implement on the field.
Proprioceptive training
Proprioceptive training, or stability training, is designed to help an athlete understand where their body is in relationship to space. It has been shown to be highly effective in reducing ankle injuries — particularly for those with a history of ankle sprains. Use this one of these stability circuits on the field to help your athletes stay on their feet this season.
Basic Stability:
Progressive Stability:
