Warm Ups

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.

Dribble and change direction

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

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

Get sleepy heads ready to play

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

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

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

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

Prepare to warm-up

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

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

Stop the attack

in Defending, Warm Ups

Get defenders to play like Liverpool centre-back Virgil van Dijk, whose clever positioning in seemingly irretrievable situations often leads to attacks breaking down. MORE

Cops and robbers

in Arrival activities, Attacking, Soccer drills and skills, Warm Ups

You can use this fun warm up to teach young players the basics of attacking and defending. Awareness of where players are and the ability to control, pass and stop the ball can all be coached with this drill. MORE

Dribbling gates

in Soccer drills and skills, Warm Ups

I was asked at training last week: “How do you warm a striker up?” The answer has to be: “The same as everyone else.” A striker has to control, pass and run with the ball. They will not be shooting the whole time, indeed they may only shoot once or twice in a game. I... MORE

Pass to the open player

in Passing, Warm Ups

This training warm up helps to create a passing team capable of playing up the pitch at speed. It is easy to set up and excellent for fast feet, with players not only having to think but look to see where the spare man is. MORE

Pass and react

in Passing, Warm Ups

This tricky warm up may be hard to perfect, but once your players get the measure of it, you will soon see their passing improving MORE

Simple dribbling

in Practice plans, Soccer dribbling drills, Warm Ups

Dribbling with the ball is a skill that must be mastered by all players. This session will help you teach your squad this simple, but vital, discipline. MORE

Pass move shoot

in Attacking, Warm Ups

This is a great session for getting attackers to be open to the pitch and it will help your striker learn when to shoot and when to tee up a team-mate MORE

Are your warm-ups working?

in Email newsletters, Warm Ups

Make sure you have some different warm ups to try with your players like these four favourites of mine MORE