In Soccer practice , it’s a fact that both players and the coaches have a tendency to take warming up and stretching lightly. You must understand that a practice session should aid the player’s total professional growth. Practicing standard drills alone in soccer training will not serve the full purpose.
Players need strength, flexibility, and endurance to stay alive in the game. Therefore each practice session should begin with warm up rounds and stretching. After that, get on to coaching different techniques, games, and drills. Towards the end, the kids can be made to learn 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. Following are some drills that can be prove to be great stretching and warm up exercises.
1. Running in Formation: This warm up activity requires all team members to run, two alongside each other, staying in harmony. This is a great team activity that develops stamina as well as instills team spirit among the kids. What’s more, when the players progress in a set pattern, the opposing team tends to look at you as a strong wall to fight against.
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. It’s necessary for each player to have a ball in this activity. 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-admired and useful stretching activity. Instruct the players to stretch their legs towards left, right, and center in a standing position. After that, tell them to try touching their toes. Initially, the players will find it difficult but will get used to it soon.
4. Lift legs up behind: This exercise helps the kids work their thighs. While standing, the kids must raise their leg up behind and then hold it there. The repeat the exercise with the left leg. It is important that the kids do not look below else they will lose their focus and balance.
Every practice must have a purpose. Only try to teach a couple of skills every week. Research on methods that help players improve their skills and also help them warm up and stretch.
Fitness is the key. Remember that the team that wears out early is the one that loses. It is extremely important that every drill uses a soccer ball. Do not let the kids run around the field without a ball, ask them to dribble with it.
So go ahead and make your team work out with these fitness mantras for soccer practice. Enroll for our youth soccer coaching community to get more tips, tricks, knowledge, and other youth soccer resources.
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