The benefits of a dynamic workout to your team to get them ready to play a match cannot be ignored. Young players have to give their muscles a range of dynamic and progressive movements to prepare them for the game. If they don’t you’ll be risking them getting a injury when the game starts.
Warm ups with a ball should be the thing you do just before the game starts but you can do other types of games when the players first get to a game or to training. Bib pull away is a good way to start and you don’t need to spend any time explaining the game – it is always great to get under way with a brisk run around.
Once you’ve got them running around let them have a drink when you can quickly explain the next warm up that will gear them up for the session you are coaching or the match they are taking part in. If you’re planning a session on pressing or you want them to press in a match Centre Circle Sorcery is one of the best ways to do this with plenty of pressing and tackling and movement off the ball. While Pass and Sprint is good for a possession based game.
You can get brains into gear on a cold morning by using Chase the Cones it makes players think about how they can complete the session before their best friends do.
This is an excellent warm-up that gets players into the groove for pressing, tackling, and movement off the ball, great for match days or before training for a five minute warm up. MORE
Great way to warm up before a match or training session. Similar to a Rondo but with more physical movement for days when it is cold or you have a practice based on fitness. MORE
In this set up players are racing against each other in a fun game that you can use at training or on match days. Great one to get the players alert and ready for anything MORE
My team has scored goals from lots of different areas this month but the main source of goals has been by passing the ball wide or switching play so the ball is coming from the wings, but they also score from corners and free-kicks. MORE
Moments of transition and how players react to them are vital to having a successful team. Former Chelsea and Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho thinks reactions to transitions are the most important part of the game. He coached his teams to react quickly to winning and losing the ball which led to them dominating games MORE
The 4-3-3 is a great system to study if you are looking for a system of play for your team. No matter the age or the numbers of players involved the principles are the same. Good width, good support play, and fantastic attacking moves. MORE
My Under 9s team won a match that when you look at the result it seemed like a big win but that didn’t tell the story of the game. Both teams played well and had some great combination play but my team had an end product which unfortunately the visitors didn’t. MORE
It brought it home to me last Saturday when one of my Under 9s had played a fantastic match creating three goals and generally running the game... "but I didn't score!" he said with a face fighting back the tears. Kids don't appreciate the importance of an assist. MORE
Dribbling is the key to unlocking an opponents defence creating space to score goals either by crossing to a team mate or shooting themselves. Beating a man with a quick drop of the shoulder or with tight control is fantastic to watch not only with the top players but also with your own players – but the skill takes practice. MORE
