Five exercises to develop power

Developing power is important for any athlete. With power, going from a jog to sprint or jumping for a header becomes more explosive and faster. Soccer is a sport that requires power in most physical aspects such as speed and strength. These exercises will help improve power output and make any soccer player more explosive.

Split squats

There are many variations to the squat. This is the most painful to do. It will help a soccer player with running, sprinting and the many changes of direction that will be needed during a game. Because this is done one leg a time, it tends to show strength imbalances and forces a certain weight until both are equal.

RDL (Romanian Deadlift)

The reason to select the Romanian variant is that it is better at strengthening the elongated hamstring. Although even stiff leg deadlifts are also an option if mobility is an issue. Unlike the standard deadlift, keep the weights light on these and progress slowly.

Kettlebell swing

The Russian kettlebell is one of the most underrated pieces of fitness equipment. The swing strengthens the posterior chain through an explosive snap at the bottom. Ask a coach to show you the proper mechanics of the swing to prevent any injuries. Start with a light weight but make an effort to use a heavier bell.

Add these exercises to the weekly training plan and see immediate improvements to all facets of your soccer game. The kettlebell swing will make the biggest difference of the three.