This is a basic accumulative cycle aimed at developing general fitness levels. Process goals dominate this stage to ensure that players target the key technique-related factors that will ensure their motor patterns etc are grounded in a way to optimize ultimate performance.

Objectives

1. To optimize muscle activation patterns and balance
2. To ensure functional movement ranges and patterns
3. To groove the key locomotive movement patterns
4. To develop a sound base of general strength and stability
5. To ensure sound technique in key strength training activities
6. To ensure the athletes have a sufficient endurance base for soccer

This is another accumulative cycle, but training moves from general to more soccer-specific through the period. Goals move from total process to increasing performance where players are trying to improve performances in key targeted areas such as lifting more weight, running faster, etc.

Objectives

1. To challenge the key locomotive movement patterns and combinations until they stand up to open soccer-specific challenges
2. To develop a high degree of overall balanced strength and stability in all of the key movement patterns
3. To develop a high degree of soccer-specific endurance
4. To develop an appropriate muscle mass for their soccer
5. To ensure all players have excellent grooved techniques on key strength training exercises.

This is the year where performance in competition starts to be stressed. While predominantly transmutative in nature a small number of realizational cycles can be employed where high levels of performance in competition may be needed.

Objectives

1. To develop soccer specific strength and power
2. To optimize soccer related movement, including reading and reacting to key soccer specific stimuli.
3. Continue to develop appropriate muscle mass for soccer
4. To enable the player to perform for the duration of a 90-minute game through specific metabolic conditioning.

This is a traditionally periodized year, where performance in competition is stressed.

Objectives

1. To develop a high degree of soccer specific strength and power
2. To optimize soccer related movement
3. To optimize total performance