The first week should mainly be aerobic moderate-intensity training. In the following 2-3 weeks aerobic high-intensity training (see “Aerobic and Anaerobic training”) should have the highest priority with 2-3 sessions a week. From the third week also speed training may be performed on regular basis and speed endurance training may me carried out if the level of players is fairly high.

It is important to acknowledge that the recovery time is dependent on the player´s physical demands during the game and physical capacity, which must be taken into account. Most players have recovered well 48 h after a game, and can perform an aerobic high-intensity session, e.g. 8 x 2 min of exercise separated by 1-min recovery periods.

On the day prior to a game it is useful to perform short rapid movements or agility sprints, .e.g. 5-15 m sprints.

It is recommended that an elite player perform two speed training sessions a week. Scientific studies have shown that performing aerobic high-intensity training twice a week produces greater improvements that only once per week. Thus, if a player is playing Sundays, he can perform aerobic high-intensity training (total time around 25 minutes) on Tuesday and Thursday. Alternatively, he may carry out speed endurance training instead one of the days.

In the pre-season period strength training may have a high priority with 2-3 sessions a week for elite playrs.During the season the strength improvements gained in the pre-season preparation can be maintained by mainly functional strength training performed once a week (see "Fitness training in football – a scientific approach”). It should be mentioned that special attention should be given to players coming back from an injury.

The maturation status of the individual player should to a great extent dictate the priority of different fitness training categories. Thus, coaches working with young players should be aware of the difference between chronological and biological age of the player (see “Aerobic and Anaerobic training – with special emphasise of youth training). Training of coordination should always have a high priority in training of youngsters, while the amount of aerobic, anaerobic and strength training depends on the biological age. Regular participation in soccer drills and games provides sufficient fitness training for most players below the age of 14 years.

The needed test score is dependent on the physical demands of each player during a game and is related to level of competition, age, sex, playing position and tactical role. However, the average male top-class player usually runs ~2500 and ~1200 m in the Yo-Yo IR1 and 2 tests during the season . A challenge is to maintain a high fitness level throughout the season.

It is important to monitor the physical development of all the players in the team to be able to plan fitness training properly. A submaximal version (5 min of running) of the Yo-Yo IR1 or Yo-Yo IE2 tests including heart rate measurements is recommended to be carried out every third week to test the soccer-specific aerobic fitness level of the players. Moreover, the Yo-Yo IR2 test may be used every 5-6 weeks to evaluate the soccer-specific anaerobic capacity of the players. All the players in a squad can could be tested within 15 min.