Allison Skufca: In-Season Strength & Conditioning Considerations for the Soccer Athlete

In this episode of the Braun Performance & Rehab Podcast, Dan is joined by Allison Skufca to discuss the importance of strength training for soccer athletes. The two discuss the evolution of strength training in soccer, periodization, training the arms, hips, and foot/ankle complex for soccer, and more.

Allison has been a performance coach for 19 years. She received a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Exercise and Sport Science with an emphasis in Kinesiology from the University of Northern Colorado. She is certified with the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS). Allison also is a Muscle Activation Techniques (MAT) Specialist and MAT Masters Foot Function certified. She is also CPR and AED certified. Allison works with several individuals, small groups and teams of athletes ranging in age and ability level. She has numerous soccer players from several clubs in Colorado including Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer, Real Colorado, Colorado Rush, Colorado United and Colorado Elevation. She also has several ECNL and MLS Next soccer players she works with on a year-round training program to improve performance for their competitions and decrease injury rates. She also works with several college soccer players who play in some of the top conferences in the country including the PAC 12, Big 12, ACC, Ohio Valley, Big Sky, Summit League, and the Big East. Allison has experience working with professional soccer players including Canadian National Team member and Portland Thorns member Christine Sinclair, US Soccer National Team members Mallory Pugh and Jaelin Howell and Portland Thorns member Natalie Beckman. Allison was contracted out to work with Colorado Rush’s Boys Academy teams and she was invited out to run speed sessions for Colorado Rapids MLS Next Academy teams.  Allison works with several distance runners in high school and college to improve running form and increase muscular endurance to improve running performance. She also has athletes who participate in lacrosse, field hockey and basketball and ice hockey. Allison has also been asked to present at a few NSCA conferences including the Rocky Mountain Regional Conference, the Coaches Conference, and the Virginia State Clinic. She is also a council member of the NSCA Soccer Special Interest Group. In addition to training youth athletes, Allison works with several adult population clientele to increase general fitness, strength, flexibility and help with weight loss.

For more on Allison, be sure to check out @coach_allison214 on Instagram

For more on NSCA Soccer SIG, be sure to check out https://www.nsca.com/professional-development/special-interest-groups/

For more on Pivotal Sports Performance, be sure to check out https://pivotalsportsperformance.com/

*SEASON 5 of the Braun Performance & Rehab Podcast is brought to you by Isophit. For more on Isophit, please check out isophit.com and @isophit -BE SURE to use coupon code BraunPR25% to save 25% on your Isophit order!

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