Let’s face it! When it comes to warming up and stretching in Soccer practice , both coaches and players tend to ignore both. You musk know the importance of a practice session in shaping a player’s career as a whole. Just doing drills in soccer training everyday will not help.
Strength, elasticity, and patience are necessary in players to stay active in the game. So start every practice session with warm up followed by stretching. Later in the session, include games, drills, and any kind of technique teaching. Eventually, teach the kids some game tactics.
There are two purposes that are fulfilled from warm up and stretching. It readies the body to take the strain of a tough sessions and relaxes the body after the session is over. Some drills are there that can be used as effective warm up and stretching exercises.
1. Running in Formation: Make all team members run in this activity, two shoulder to shoulder and staying synchronized. Since it’s a team activity, it not only adds on to the team spirit in players but also builds player’s endurance. Moreover, moving forward in a pre defined arrangement of players; you indicate to the opponents that they are going to have a hard time dealing with you.
2. Follow the leader: The players in this warm up soccer drills activity get to learn the skill of following orders along with dribbling with their heads held high. This activity requires every player to have a ball. Ask the assistant coach or an advanced player to lead the team. This lead player must make several different moves and everyone must imitate the lead player.
3. Reaching out: In soccer practice, this is a well accepted and efficient stretching activity. Instruct the players to stretch their legs towards left, right, and center in a standing position. Afterwards, ask them to try touching their toes. At first, they may find it hard but will eventually be able to do it.
4. Lift legs up behind: This exercise helps the kids work their thighs. In a standing position, the players must fold their right leg up behind them and hold it for as long as they can. Then repeat with the left leg. It is vital that the kids do not look at the ground otherwise, they may fall down.
Every practice must have an aim. As a coach, make the kids learn only 1 to 2 skills. Design drills and games in a manner that help in developing or improving the player’s abilities as also warm up their bodies and then stretch them after the session.
Being physically fit is crucial. It must be noted that the team that gets exhausted loses. Make sure that your fitness activities are drills that include soccer ball as much as possible. Instruct the kids to run around the field while dribbling a ball.
Jump start your soccer practice sessions with these tips. Enroll for our youth soccer coaching community to get more tips, tricks, knowledge, and other youth soccer resources.
Andre Botelho is known online as “The
Expert Youth Soccer Coach” and his free
ebooks and reports have been downloaded
more than 100,000 times. Learn how to
skyrocket your players’ skills and make
practice sessions fun in record time.
Download your free ebook at: Y
outh Soccer Drills.
Share and Enjoy:
These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.