Its unbelievable how underrated the importance of warming up in kids soccer drills is. Being a coach, I’d let it be known that warming up is not only compulsory but is even critical to begin the day’s play at a brighter and healthier note. This issue is conveniently ignored as unimportant by the coaches in youth soccer drills. This has a direct affect on the health of players in form of injuries while practicing.
This article gives you some nice tips on how to get the team warmed up. The team should be guided to use such body movements that have the effect of warming up all muscles. This is the most effective way to liven up all muscles in the body. Rigorous sessions can result in stiffness and cramping of the muscles.
Tip 1: Have the players jog for about 5-7 minutes initially. It’s advisable to begin with a light jog and then move on to sprinting. Check that the pulse rate in this reaches 120 beats per minute. However, slow progress is the key. Then make them swing their legs forward cross-body for about 10 times each. Lastly, have them actively stretch their body over 20 yards.
Tip 2: Talking of active stretching over 20 yards, it should be noted that it should be accompanied with some warm up exercises of its own. For instance, the players should practice hopping forward and backward. The players can also be taught cross stepping. Also teach them high-knee carioca. These can be implemented just like sprinting.
In soccer drills for kids, running towards the back is also a very useful warm up exercise. Still, in order to perform it, the proper way to do it is to jerk up the heels to the butt. It is a little hard to practice this but it is the only correct way of doing it.
Tip 3: There are various other warm up drills in kids soccer drills that build up the energy for practice sessions. You can direct your players to play with circles and hoops. These give an extra dimension to the skipping exercises. Also have your players do the cross-over hopping. Quick Hip Swings, though it’s slightly complex, can also be used to warm up the body intensively as it’s a very valuable and tested means.
Next, make the players do long shuffles with turns in the middle. Make them practice forward and backward leg swings. This is a highly effective and useful body toning activity. In the same way, high leg forwards and backwards is also very effective.
Tip 4: Stretching should be adequate and correctly executed. What works best for the legs is stretch hinging. Ensure that every kid works out hamstring, quadriceps, groin and calf without exceptions. The players not only avoid injuries but also get to increase their muscle range by stretching.
In soccer drills for youth, another important thing to ensure is that kids don’t do too much of anything. They tend to get carried over by enthusiasm and injure themselves unnecessarily.
In kids soccer drills, it’s for you now to make sure that kids do the warm up exercises before practice sessions as you’ve got all the knowledge on this. There is a wealth of news and articles of similar nature on our youth soccer coaching community. Register now to enjoy the benefits.
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: Youth Soccer Drills.
