{"id":29287,"date":"2015-06-05T07:15:03","date_gmt":"2015-06-05T11:15:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/?p=29287"},"modified":"2021-05-13T11:33:13","modified_gmt":"2021-05-13T15:33:13","slug":"world-cup-strength-workout","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/fitness\/world-cup-strength-workout\/","title":{"rendered":"Train Like a Pro with This World Cup Workout"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Women's
Photo: Pond5<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If the USA vs. Japan final was any indication, yes<\/em>, there\u2019s more to the Women\u2019s World Cup than turf wars and FIFA scandals. The Beautiful Game, whether played by the world\u2019s finest male or female footballers, inspires patriotism, poise under pressure, and athleticism in its purest form. And while we can\u2019t all have Carli Lloyd\u2019s magic touch, Alex Morgan\u2019s explosiveness, or Abby Wambach\u2019s<\/a> sheer resilience (count them, four <\/em>World Cups!), we can follow their lead to a strong, well-tuned physique.<\/p>\n

Soccer players are among the fittest athletes<\/a> in the world \u2014 a pitch perfect blend of agility, speed<\/a>, power and finesse. And the magic they exude doesn’t just happen on the playing field. According to Jonathan Barlow, Performance Specialist at EXOS<\/a> (formerly Athletes’ Performance) and trainer to members of the U.S. Men\u2019s National Team and the LA Galaxy, strength training<\/a> is the most essential way to get players in game-ready shape and prevent injury.<\/p>\n

“A high level of base strength gives athletes the ability to produce more force, which yields a more powerful soccer player that can sprint and change direction at a faster rate,” Barlow says. “Strength training also decreases injury potential so the soccer athlete spends less time on the sideline and more time in the game.”<\/p>\n

So whether your goal is making the A squad or just looking and feeling like you belong there, there\u2019s no time like the present to hit the gym. Try this World Cup-caliber workout from Barlow that\u2019s fit for the pros.<\/p>\n

The World Cup Strength Workout<\/b><\/h3>\n
\"Women's
Photo: Pond5<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

Complete each of the following five moves for the prescribed reps and sets listed below. Rest for 30-60 seconds between sets, or longer if needed between the weighted exercises.<\/p>\n

\"GIF:
GIF: Core Performance<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

1. <\/b>Mini-Band External Rotation<\/a> <\/b>
\n<\/b>This exercise helps to activate the glutes before a training session or match. \u201cThese muscles are extremely important when accelerating, and decelerating on the pitch,\u201d Barlow says. \u201cStrong, active glutes can also protect against injury.\u201d
\nHow to: <\/b>Place a mini band around your legs, just above the knees and stand in an athletic position, knees slightly bent, hips back<\/a> (a<\/b>). Keeping your chest up and feet firmly planted, bring both knees inward and then outward, while engaging the glutes and core (b<\/b>). If you feel this working the outside of your hips, you\u2019re doing it right!
\nSets: 2, Reps: 10    <\/i><\/p>\n

\"GIF:
GIF: Core Performance<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

2. <\/b>Lateral Lunge with Reach
\n<\/a><\/b><\/b>Challenge lower-body stability while stretching the hip flexors and lateral torso. \u201cThis exercise will help improve hip mobility, which translates to more power and efficiency when sprinting on the field,\u201d Barlow says.
\nHow to:<\/strong> Start by stepping back with your right foot into a lunge, right hip directly over your right knee, left knee directly over your left foot (a<\/strong>). While contracting your right glute, reach your right hand overhead and laterally crunch your torso to the left, touching your left hand to the ground (b<\/strong>). Return to the starting position and repeat on the opposite side (c<\/strong>).
\nSets: 2, Reps: 5 on each side<\/i><\/p>\n

\"GIF:
GIF: Core Performance<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

3. <\/b>Linear Hurdle Hop
\n<\/a><\/b>Practice makes perfect, and this move teaches soccer players proper body mechanics when landing and decelerating. \u201cNot only will this improve the athlete\u2019s change of direction abilities, but it will decrease the potential for injury \u2014 especially around the knee,\u201d Barlow says.
\nHow to: <\/b>Set up five small hurdles or cones in front of you, each about 16 to 18 inches apart. Balance on one leg in front of the first hurdle (a<\/b>). Hop over the hurdle, landing on the same foot, and continue over the remaining hurdles, landing softly to absorb impact though the hips and glutes (b<\/b>). Be sure not to allow the knee to collapse to the inside upon takeoff or landing.
\nSets: 3, Reps: 5 on each leg<\/i><\/p>\n

\"GIF:
GIF: FitBird<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

4. <\/b>Dumbbell Push Press
\n<\/a><\/b>This advanced, multi-joint exercise teaches the lower body and upper body to work in unison in order to produce all-out power. Prepare to strengthen the quadriceps, deltoids (shoulders) and triceps all in one demanding move.
\nHow to: <\/b>Stand with your feet hip-width apart, holding a pair of dumbbells in front of your chest, elbows bent at your sides, palms facing forward (a<\/b>). Keeping your heels grounded, chest up and shoulders back, lower into a quarter squat (b<\/b>). Then, explosively come to standing, driving through your legs to help push the dumbbells overhead, locking your arms out at full extension and bracing your core (c<\/b>). Lower the weights back to the start position and repeat (d<\/b>).
\nSets: 3, Reps: 5<\/i><\/p>\n

\"Romanian-Deadlift-2\"
GIF: Core Performance<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

5. <\/b>Barbell Romanian Deadlift
\n<\/a><\/b>Also known as the RDL, \u201cthis fundamental exercise builds strength in the hamstrings and glutes \u2014 two muscles which are extremely important during acceleration, deceleration and change of direction,\u201d Barlow says.
\nHow to: <\/b>Stand with feet hip-width apart, knees slightly bent, barbell in front of you on the floor (a<\/b>). Keeping your back flat, shoulders back and chest up, hinge at the hips and lower down to grasp the barbell with an overhand grip (b<\/b>). (Note: an overhand grip is standard, though the underhand grip is pictured in the accompanying GIF.) Contracting your hamstrings and glutes, slowly rise to a standing position without bending your legs or rounding your spine, ensuring the barbell stays against your body throughout the entire movement (c<\/b>). Lock your knees and hips out fully at the very top of the movement, barbell resting against your hips (d<\/strong>).
\nSets: 4, Reps: 6<\/i><\/p>\n

To watch the Women’s National Team kick off the tournament in what\u2019s being called the Group of Death<\/a> (pitted against top contenders Australia, Nigeria and Sweden), tune in to Fox Sports<\/a> starting on June 8, 2015.  <\/i><\/i><\/p>\n

Originally posted on June 20, 2014. Updated June 2015. <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This soccer-focused strength workout will get you looking and feeling like a World Cup athlete. Learn all the winning moves here!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":40556,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[24,6,14],"tags":[209,289,144,281,341,353,154,100,241],"class_list":["post-29287","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-exercise","category-fitness","category-strength-training","tag-athlete","tag-exercise","tag-injury","tag-strength-training","tag-tax1living-well","tag-tax2weight-training","tag-weight-training","tag-workout","tag-world-cup"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29287","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29287"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29287\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/40556"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29287"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29287"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29287"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}