Women’s Soccer Team Goes Through Offseason Training

By EMILY CLARK/Contributor

Note: Emily Clark is a member of the soccer team.

The UT Tyler women’s soccer team members are putting in fitness training in the offseason to improve their performance.

Each semester, the coaching staff conducts tests to measure the athletes’ fitness levels.

“We don’t know if the athletes are becoming better or not if we don’t test certain parameters that are crucial to their game,” strength and conditioning coach Ty McDaniel, said.

The 30-yard sprint is used to evaluate acceleration and explosive power.

In addition to sprint testing, team members focus on weight training to increase their strength, which is vital for winning in-game battles, maintaining possession of the ball and preventing injuries.

“I feel like I’ve gotten more athletic from being in the weight room a lot, running, and lifting a lot,” junior Natalie Jones said. “Testing is important because it helps you have a good gauge of where you’re at and how much you improve over a period of time.”

The testing allows the coaching staff to track improvements and identifying areas where players may need extra work. The tests are used in the strength and conditioning program to address specific weaknesses.

“You should test your athletes if you aren’t already doing so,”  Zach Wallace, athletic performance specialist, said. “It allows your athletes to compete and gain confidence through training while you earn buy-in from their progress.”

This combination of testing and training helps ensure each player is in peak physical shape when the season begins.