Blogs - This Week In Soccer

Health

How Dangerous Are Soccer Concussions?

The world’s most popular sport brings excitement and joy to millions, yet it conceals some grave health concerns, particularly concussions. This issue garnered attention during the 2023 Women’s World Cup, when discussions about the severe impacts of repeated concussions in soccer resurfaced. A comprehensive understanding of soccer concussions is crucial for safeguarding players and the […]

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Development

Why Your Practice Might Be Holding Players Back

You run a beautiful passing drill. Crisp touches. Perfect patterns. Players look sharp. Then Saturday comes—and everything falls apart. The passes are late. Decisions are slow. Players freeze under pressure. Sound familiar? According to a landmark study of youth soccer coaching, this isn’t a player problem. It’s a practice design problem. Researchers observed 70 youth […]

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Health

How Sleep Science Can Empower Soccer Performance

Athletes are always seeking the edge that can enhance their performance on the field. While training and nutrition play crucial roles, recent insights suggest that mastering sleep science might be a game-changer for soccer players striving for excellence. The Impact of Sleep on Athletic Performance Sleep is not merely a period of rest. It’s a […]

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Strategy

Why Small-Sided Games Work

Picture this: it’s the last 20 minutes of training. Players are tired, touches get sloppy, and you’re deciding whether to run fitness laps or play one more game. You choose a 4v4. Suddenly, intensity spikes. Players talk more. Decisions come faster. Heart rates climb. Everyone is locked in. That instinct—to choose the game over the […]

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Health

Heat Stress and Preparing for the 2026 World Cup

As the world eagerly anticipates the 2026 FIFA World Cup, hosted across North America, a pertinent issue has captured the attention of the scientific community and soccer enthusiasts alike: the risk of heat stress on players. This concern is not just about comfort but about the health and performance of the athletes on soccer’s grandest […]

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Culture

Can Sports Drive Racial Justice? What the Evidence Says

Note: This article is cross-posted from our sister site: This Week in Public Health. On a warm summer night in 2020, a local health department staffer scrolls through her phone after a long shift. The headlines aren’t about COVID case counts or vaccination clinics. They’re about athletes—kneeling, striking, refusing to play. In between emergency briefings […]

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Strategy

Train Keepers Like Games

Picture this: it’s the 72nd minute. A low cross skips off a defender, the striker stabs at it, and the ball ricochets toward goal. Your keeper reacts instinctively—no textbook dive, no perfect set position—but somehow the ball stays out. After the match, a coach mutters: “Technique was messy, but it worked.” Science backs that up. […]

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Culture

What Parents Say vs. What Kids Hear

You’ve seen it a hundred times. A parent leans forward on a folding chair, hands cupped around their mouth, yelling instructions during a U9 match. After the game, that same parent says, “I just want my kid to have fun.” Here’s the tension: what parents say they want in youth soccer often doesn’t match what […]

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Health

Do Mouthguards Prevent Concussions?

Picture a corner kick late in a tight match. Two players leap, elbows tucked, eyes locked on the ball. There’s a clash of heads, a shout, and one player hits the ground holding their mouth. Best case: a cut lip. Worst case: broken teeth, dental surgery, and weeks out of training. Most soccer coaches worry […]

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How Dangerous Are Soccer Concussions?

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