Soccer Speed

The world’s most popular sport is also one of the most demanding. Stronger, smarter, and more agile players have increased the intensity and tempo of the game. Success hinges on the ability to read, react, and execute. For individual players and teams alike, speed is a necessity.

Soccer Speed is a groundbreaking work—more than a training guide, but an all-encompassing execution plan for success in today’s aggressive, attacking, and fast-paced game.

Inside, you’ll learn how to develop these skills:

- Quickness, agility, and balance for defending, attacking, reacting, and executing

- Most effective techniques, such as heel passes and stride changes, to challenge opponents and keep them off balance

- Soccer intelligence, or the ability to instantly recognize and exploit the opposition’s weakness

- In-game decision making with and without the ball

Every aspect of the game is covered, including step-by-step instruction and 36 drills for developing technical and tactical speed in passing, receiving, dribbling, scoring, counterattacking, and defending. Soccer Speed is the one and only guide for outpacing, outsmarting, and outplaying the opposition.

Dick Bate was the head of the Cardiff City FC Youth Academy and the former director of elite coaching for the English Football Association (FA). He coached at Leeds United FC, Notts County FC, Lincoln City FC, and Hereford United FC. He served as the technical director at Watford FC, and as a technical adviser to FIFA, soccer’s world governing body. He was also the technical director of the Malaysian Football Association and the Canadian Soccer Association.

Bate was a UEFA professional license holder, FA staff coach, AFC staff coach, UEFA “A” license holder, and England youth team coach. As an athlete he played for Sheffield Wednesday, York City, and Boston United football clubs and represented the British Colleges while a student.

He directed and conducted several UEFA Professional License courses and more than 40 UEFA “A” license courses and, together with S. Subramaniam, devised and instigated the Coach Education Programme throughout Asia for the Asian Football Confederation. He received the Lifetime Achievement Coaching Award from the English Football Association.

Dick Bate passed away in 2018.

Ian Jeffreys is one of the most respected strength and conditioning coaches in the United Kingdom and a world-renowned authority on speed and agility development. He is a reader and coordinator in strength and conditioning at the University of South Wales. He is also the proprietor and performance director of All-Pro Performance based in Brecon, Wales. Ian has been a member of the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) since 1989. He is a registered strength and conditioning coach, certified strength and conditioning specialist (CSCS), and certified personal trainer (NSCA-CPT) with the NSCA and has been recertified with distinction (*D) in all categories. He was the NSCA’s High School Professional of the Year in 2006, the first time the award had ever been presented to a coach working outside the United States. In July 2009, Ian was awarded a fellowship by the NSCA for his outstanding contributions to the industry. He is an accredited strength and conditioning coach with the United Kingdom Strength and Conditioning Association (UKSCA) and was on the board of directors of the association from its founding in 2004 until 2013.

Ian has authored 4 books, 10 book chapters, and numerous strength and conditioning articles that have been featured in leading international journals. He also edited the NSCA book Developing Speed (Human Kinetics, 2013).

Ian has worked with numerous clubs and sport organisations around the world. He is a sought-after conference presenter and has given keynote presentations and hosted performance workshops at several worldwide conferences, including the NSCA Sport-Specific and European Conferences and the Australian Strength and Conditioning Conference.

“After 30 years as a college soccer coach I can say Dick Bate is the best instructor/clinician I have seen.  If playing faster interests you as a coach or player, then Soccer Speed is a must read.”

Ray Reid-- Head coach, University of Connecticut – Men’s Soccer

“Dick Bate has created a highly technical book on soccer specific fitness, speed, agility and the technique to enhance and develop these important physical skills. As in all Dick Bate coaching, Soccer Speed is about the real detail that makes the difference for coaches and athletes. He uses examples from the Premier League and I found the read technical but very enjoyable. This is a must for coaches and athletes that want to take their game to a higher level.”

Tony DiCicco-- Olympic Gold Medal Coach, USA ‘96; World Cup Champion Coach, USA ’99; U20 World Cup Champion Coach, USA ‘08

“At Manchester United Football Club, our on and off the field conditioning is expertly guided by Soccer Speed and the information that Dick Bate and Ian Jeffreys present.”

Tony Strudwick-- Head of Fitness and Conditioning, Manchester United Football Club