Warm-ups and cool-downs are two of the most important aspects of your training and match day routines.
It’s vital that your players warm-up and cool-down properly in order to maximise their performance and reduce the risk of injury. We tell you how and why warm-ups and cool-downs work and we suggest some activities that you might try with your team.
This is the time of year when players push themselves that little bit further in trying to end the season on a high and end up being injured. Quite often they have picked up an injury early in the season and have played through with it. Proper warm-ups are one of the ways to make […]
This five minute fitness drill can be used during your training sessions for a quick break to help coaching points sink in, or as an incentive for a drinks break. Why use it This is a great warm-up to get your players moving in all directions so they are ready to play in matches. Set […]
Straight from the Fulham Academy training ground, this warm-up will help develop your team’s ability to use both feet and to pass accurately. Why use it This is a great warm up to get your players passing the ball and working in sequences and passing patterns. Using a circle is a good way to get […]
Under 8s usually turn up to matches highly charged and in a state of great excitement, but any hanging around in rain or cold or just generally having to wait for the game to start brings them down to earth with a bang and so they have to be charged back up again! The way […]
This fun activity is perfect for use on match days, allowing you to warm up your players’ passing and moving technique. Difficulty Rating – 4 out of 5 stars Good technical warm up but does require the player in the centre to move quickly to keep the session going – the progression adds movement which […]
This session works on encouraging communication and good passing and getting players to drive into space and hit the target. Why use it This is excellent for team play with individuals linking and passing to create a goal scoring chance in the penalty area. Set up You need balls, bibs, cones and a goal. Set […]
Strength and Power This is an excellent warm-up that practises good ball skills whilst getting players ‘switched on’ in terms of movement, speed and ball control. Players should get a good feel of the pace of the ball when they take the shot at goal – the ‘race’ adds pressure. SET UP Arrange the players in pairs and tell them to react to […]
When you get to your matches, try this soccer warm-up drill so your players can remember all the ball control drills and skills you have worked on in your soccer coaching sessions. This warm-up drill is easy to set up as long as you remember to take your cones with you to the away games! […]
This warm-up soccer drill is a good fitness test to get players practising short bursts of speed while keeping the ball under control. It also tests the accuracy of their pass or shot. Soccer drills such as this one are excellent for fitness tests with a competition at the end. To make this soccer (football) […]
Get your players to lose their markers with this fun warm up game from Michael Beale. Marking skills game Each player must put a bib in the back of his shorts. The players must move around the area and try to pull someone else's bib away. They must also try to protect their own bib. […]
