4 arrival activities to kick-off with
Watford foundation-phase coach PAUL BARRY suggests some fun and easy- to-set-up games to keep players engaged before the start of your sessions MORE
Arrival activities
Arrival activities are the perfect way to start your coaching sessions.
There are a few things that make arrival activities stand out:
- They easily adapt to accomodate constantly changing numbers
- Players can generally run them without coach intervention (allowing you to set up subsequent activities)
- They stop players standing around at the start of a session or aimlessly banging balls at the goal.
- They allow you to maximise your training time and get players focused from the first minute.
If you’ve not been using arrival activities, now’s the time to start. They’re recommended by the FA and many other coaching associations around the world.
5 reasons to use arrival activities
They are becoming more widely used by coaches before sessions. Here, Uefa A coach and grassroots specialist PAUL BARRY lists the benefits of arrival activities MORE
Arrival activities that work!
in Arrival activities, Email newsletters
It was the first game of the season on Saturday and the local council had decided to close the main road leading to our club's ground. So the phone calls started coming in thick and fast: "Dave we are going to be late." MORE
Rondos: great fun, great learning
in Arrival activities, Rondos, Warm Ups
My go to activities when players have had been on the summer break are Rondos – and with this being one of the longest breaks from playing due to lockdown I am going to be using Rondos over the next few weeks to get players back up to speed. MORE
Return to play: Circle passing
in Arrival activities, Return to play
There are a number of places where the social distancing rules are not the same as here in England, and I've been asked for sessions that are non contact but not just 5 players so this ssession can be used with any number of players. MORE
Warm up circle
in Arrival activities, Fun soccer games, Warm Ups
Great for any age group, getting brains warmed up with gentle running and getting players to concentrate and think about what they have to do. Simple but very effective. MORE
Start games strongly
in Arrival activities, Email newsletters, Warm Ups
What I love about my U9s team is that when I come out to warm them up before a match they are all ready and sitting there waiting for me... with a cheer they all descend on the bag of training balls and start warming themselves up. MORE
Dribble turn
in Arrival activities, Warm Ups
This simple and fun activity is perfect for use on match days, allowing you to warm up your players with a quick burst of movement and a focus on technique MORE
One-two work out
in Arrival activities, Passing, Warm Ups
This five minute warm up drill is all about first touch and anticipating the pass. Good for fitness and getting players ready for movement and passing in matches. MORE
Fast feet
in Arrival activities, Warm Ups
A warm-up that will teach your players practise dribbling the ball with two feet and help them to learn how to change direction quickly MORE
Diamonds sharpen skills
in Arrival activities, Warm Ups
This session sharpens an array of soccer skills at the beginning of a season when players need to get their bodies back into balance and refresh their technique on the ball. This is a great session to use for sharpening awareness and coordination. MORE
Bounce and go
in Arrival activities, Warm Ups
A simple warm-up to get your players thinking about speed – both when running without the ball and when dribbling with the ball. MORE
Foot soldiers
in Arrival activities, Ball Control and Footwork, Warm Ups
This simple unopposed warm-up is easy to set up and is perfect to get players in the mood for training or to get their feet moving before a match MORE
Waiting for players
in Arrival activities, Fun soccer games
This session is set up so that as players arrive they can easily join in without you needing to stop or change the session. The arrival activity shown here is geared towards closing down the opposition in midfield. Set up You need balls, bibs and cones in an area 20×20 yards. Numbers build up as... MORE
The best way to start your coaching session
in Arrival activities, Email newsletters
When you are planning out your coaching sessions you need to think about how to make arrival activities work for your team. Depending on their ages the needs of the drill that kick starts the session will be different but one thing will be the same, they need to stretch bodies and be good fun. MORE
Passing pairs
in Arrival activities, Ball Control and Footwork, Warm Ups
Straight from the Fulham Academy training ground, this arrival activity will help develop your team’s ability to use both feet and to pass accurately. MORE
Developing dribbling to pass and receive
in Arrival activities, Soccer dribbling drills, Warm Ups
The idea of the session is to work towards possession with a purpose which includes understanding how to exploit space. So players begin by learing dribbling decisions then passing decisions MORE
Use an arrival activity at the start of training
in Arrival activities, Warm Ups
Arrival activities are an ideal way to kick off training when you are waiting for all your players to turn up – they are set up so you can easily slot players in as they arise without disrupting the session MORE
Rapid shooting
in Arrival activities, Fun soccer games, Shooting
This fun, shooting activity gives all players the opportunity to shoot in a fast paced competitive game. MORE
Clocks
in Arrival activities, Warm Ups
This arrival activity is great for any age group once players have got into the swing of passing one way and running the other. You can use any number of players and add more as they turn up for training. MORE
Changing direction
in Arrival activities, Ball Control and Footwork, Warm Ups
As an arrival activity this works because you can add players as they turn up to training. It develops a high level of skill and movement. It is good for technique and uses both feet. MORE
Triangle keep ball
in Arrival activities, Rondos, Warm Ups
This is a simple 5v2 keep away game made harder by having a triangle in the middle which the two defenders must protect or stay in the middle longer MORE
Two move
in Arrival activities, Small Sided Games, Warm Ups
This simple and fun activity is perfect for use on match days, allowing you to warm up your players with ball control and good touch MORE
Locomotion
in Arrival activities, Passing, Warm Ups
An easily organised warm up suitable for all ages and abilities that will improve communication, passing awareness and decision-making. MORE
