
On the half-turn – warm-up
in Warm Ups
Three-part session teaching players to receive on the half-turn and break defensive lines. By DAVID PONCIA MORE
An easily organised warm up suitable for all ages and abilities that will improve communication, passing awareness and decision-making.
Use the centre circle of your pitch and mark out a five-yard square in the middle of the circle. We’ve used 16 players. You need cones and balls.
Place 10 players equally spaced out around the circle. Put six players in the centre, each with a ball. Players must run through the square and then pass to one of the outside players, run around the back of them and receive the ball back. They then run through the square again and this time pass to an outside player and swap places with them. The outside player then does the same routine.
The numbers of players in the warm-up can be easily adjusted but just make sure there are three or four more players on the outside than on the inside when it starts.
Passing the ball, receiving, running with the ball, running with head up, control, communication and decision making all come into play in this effective and game realistic warm-up exercise.
The speed of execution will depend on the ability level of the players but even younger players will be able to gradually build up their pace and skill level.
The beauty of this warm up is that it can begin slowly and gradually build up in intensity. Top level players may soon get to one-touch passing. Others can build up to it.