An Introduction to Our Speed, Agility & Quickness (SAQ) Football Sessions💨
Football is changing ⚡️
The game is faster, players are stronger and the physical demands placed on young footballers continue to increase. Technical ability will always be at the heart of football, but in the modern game, players also need to be able to run, accelerate, decelerate, change direction, jump, compete and repeat high intensity actions.
That’s exactly why we’ve introduced our Speed, Agility & Quickness (SAQ) football sessions at Conor Thomas Academy.
Why SAQ? 🤔
Being quicker can give you an advantage.
Being able to change direction quicker can give you an advantage.
Being stronger in a challenge can give you an advantage.
Being more explosive over the first few metres can give you an advantage.
And being able to repeat those actions throughout a game can make a huge difference.
At CTA, we don’t believe physical development should be separated from football development. Our SAQ football training is designed to help players become better athletes for football.
It’s not about simply becoming fitter. It’s about developing the physical qualities that allow you to perform better on the pitch.
What is SAQ? 🧠
SAQ stands for Speed, Agility and Quickness.
These are three important physical qualities for footballers.
Speed is the ability to cover ground quickly, whether that’s accelerating over the first few metres or reaching top speed.
Agility is the ability to accelerate, decelerate and change direction effectively.
Quickness is about how quickly a player can react and move in response to what is happening around them.
Football is full of these moments.
The first few steps to beat an opponent.
The acceleration to get onto a through ball.
The change of direction to create space.
The reaction to a loose ball.
The ability to recover quickly after losing possession.
These physical qualities can make a difference. You don’t have to be the biggest player. You don’t have to be the fastest player in your team, and you certainly don’t need to become a professional sprinter. But every footballer needs a physical base that allows their technical and tactical ability to come out on the pitch.
Imagine two players with similar technical ability:
One can accelerate quickly, change direction efficiently, compete physically and maintain their intensity throughout a game.
The other can’t.
Who is more likely to have an impact? That’s why we believe physical development should form an important part of youth football development.
The goal isn’t to turn footballers into athletes. The goal is to make footballers better athletes.
What do we work on? 🤝
Our football speed and agility training uses a variety of techniques, drills and training methods designed around the physical demands of the game.
Sessions can include work on:
Speed – developing acceleration, sprinting mechanics and the ability to cover ground quickly.
Agility – improving acceleration, deceleration and changes of direction.
Quickness – developing reaction speed and the ability to move quickly in response to different situations.
Strength – helping players become stronger and more capable of handling the physical demands of football.
Power – developing the ability to produce force quickly.
Explosiveness – improving actions such as acceleration, jumping and powerful changes of direction.
Movement quality – helping players become more efficient and controlled when accelerating, decelerating, turning, jumping and landing.
It’s not about simply making players run around cones. Every drill should have a purpose. The aim is to develop physical qualities that can transfer into football.
Why is physical development important in football? 💪
Modern football demands more from players physically than ever before.
Players are expected to sprint, accelerate, decelerate, change direction and compete repeatedly throughout matches. That’s why football strength and conditioning has become such an important part of player development.
Research into youth football training has demonstrated that appropriately designed physical and neuromuscular training can improve qualities such as speed, agility, jumping ability and balance.
For young footballers, the key is developing these qualities progressively and appropriately for their age and stage of development.
Physical training shouldn’t simply be about working harder. It should be about working smarter. It’s not just about being fit. There’s an important difference between being fit and being physically prepared for football. A player might be able to run for a long time but struggle to accelerate.
Another player might be quick but lack the strength to maintain their position in a challenge.
Another might be strong but struggle to change direction efficiently. Football requires a combination of physical qualities. That’s why our explosive football training focuses on developing different areas rather than simply making players tired.
Meet Marcus 🙌
Our SAQ sessions are led by Marcus, who brings a strong combination of sports science, strength and conditioning and football coaching experience.
Marcus holds a Master’s degree in Sport Performance Science, a Sport & Exercise Science qualification, Level 4 Strength & Conditioning Coach qualification, Level 3 Personal Training qualification and UEFA C Diploma. That combination is important to us.
We want our physical training to be delivered by someone who understands both the athlete and the footballer.
1-to-1 and group SAQ sessions 💨
Our SAQ sessions are available as both 1-2-1 and group sessions.
1-2-1 sessions allow us to work specifically around an individual player’s needs.
That could mean focusing on acceleration, agility, explosiveness, movement quality, strength or another physical area that could help their game.
Group sessions provide a different environment.
Players can compete against others, challenge themselves and develop their physical qualities in a more competitive setting.
Both have their place. The important thing is that the training is purposeful and appropriate for the individual player.
Give yourself another advantage. football is becoming increasingly athletic.
The players who can combine technical quality with speed, strength, power, explosiveness and the ability to repeat high intensity actions have another tool at their disposal.
At Conor Thomas Academy, our SAQ football training is designed to help players develop exactly that.
Quicker.
Sharper.
Stronger.
More powerful.
More explosive.
If you’re looking to add physical development to your football training, our 1-2-1 and group SAQ sessions are available to book through our usual booking link 📲
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