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.
in Email newsletters, Warm Ups
I cannot second guess when we will all be out of this strange way of coaching with no opposed sessions but hopefully it will be fairly soon. To that end I continually remind myself that I will be going back to getting my players warmed up in a different way to how I am doing it at the moment. MORE
in Ball Control and Footwork, Warm Ups
Get brains and muscles into gear with this quick warm-up for training. It works on movement, agility and vision. MORE
in Ball Control and Footwork, Warm Ups
Use this fast-paced training game to get two centre midfielders and a defensive midfielder moving quickly into positions to support each other, just like they would in a match. MORE
in Goalkeeping, Warm Ups
This goalkeeper warm up is all about reacting to balls played close to the keeper and getting them to take ownership of the ball. The goalkeeper can make a huge difference to a team, with a confident player who can clear the ball taking the pressure off defenders. MORE
in Goalkeeping, Warm Ups
Warming the goalkeeper up needs more than just taking a few shots at him to see his reactions. This is a great workout that you can use as a warm up that tests goalkeeper handling and distribution. MORE
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
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
How often do you turn up at a match and watch the players doing something that just isn’t a warm up or preparation for playing a game? MORE
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
in Ball Control and Footwork, Warm Ups
This is a great warm-up to get your players ready for a match or training session. Running with the ball under control, changing direction and passing MORE
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
in Email newsletters, Warm Ups
Warm ups or arrival activities are the best way to get fuzzy minds focused on the game ahead. Afterall you don't want to be 3-0 down after 10 minutes before they wake up and react to the fact they are playing a game. MORE
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
in Email newsletters, Warm Ups
Every piece of research I have read agrees that the pre-match warm-up plays a vital part in enhancing player performance and reducing the risk of injury. Try these warm-ups with your team MORE
