Let’s accept the fact that in Soccer practice , both stretching and warming up are not given due attention by either coaches or players. You must understand that a practice session should aid the player’s total professional growth. Just doing drills in soccer training everyday will not help.
Players are required to have energy, flexibility, and stamina to remain in the game. Therefore each practice session should begin with warm up rounds and stretching. Then it should progress into technique teaching and drills or games. Towards the end, the kids can be made to learn some game tactics.
Warming up and stretching achieve two broad objectives. It allows the body to get ready for a taxing exercise regime and stretching results in resting of the muscles. Following are some drills that can be prove to be great stretching and warm up exercises.
1. Running in Formation: Make all team members run in this activity, two shoulder to shoulder and staying synchronized. 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: This warm up comes from the family of soccer drills that allow the players to learn the art of dribbling with their heads up and tag along other team members. 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 player should try a lot of new things which should be imitated in turn by the rest of the pack.
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. At first, they may find it hard but will eventually be able to do it.
4. Lift legs up behind: This is another stretching exercise that works the thighs up. While standing, the kids must raise their leg up behind and then hold it there. 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.
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