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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. Daily practicing soccer training drills is not sufficient.

Players are required to have energy, flexibility, and stamina to remain in the game. Warm up and stretching should therefore be the starting points of any practice session. It should then be followed by technique teaching, games and drills. In the end, kids should be taught game tactics.

Warm up and stretching are done with two main intentions. They prepare the body for a strenuous workout and at the end of the session, stretching relaxes the tired muscles. Some drills are there that can be used as effective warm up and stretching exercises.

1. Running in Formation: This warm up activity requires all team members to run, two alongside each other, staying in harmony. 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: Another warm up soccer drills which help players get trained at following orders and dribbling while watching other team players. 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-admired and useful stretching activity. Direct the players to stretch their legs apart towards left, right, and center. Then, ask them to try touching their toes on all sides. In the beginning, they may find it difficult but will get used to it soon.

4. Lift legs up behind: This exercise makes the thighs get stretched. While standing, the kids must raise their leg up behind and then hold it there. The repeat the exercise with the left leg. The players must not look below at the ground else they will loose their balance.

Every practice must have a goal. 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 fit is vital. Understand that the team that is not fit and gets tired 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. Register for our youth soccer coaching community today to gain access to more knowledge, tips, and tricks on youth soccer.

Andre Botelho is known online as “The

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