This was a topic of a podcast on CoachingSoccerWeekly.com but I'm sure their are some coaches that read this blog that haven't heard the podcast or visited the web site.
I've also included the printable show notes that I created for this episode at the bottom of the page.
The warm-up activity you choose is important to get your players mentally and physically ready for the session. Your players are usually coming from school or other activities and you need to get their attention and focus before they’re ready to learn what you have to teach.
Fun warm-up games are a great way to engage players of any age. I think we sometimes forget that unless we’re working with professional teams ( and I doubt that anyone listen to this podcast is )we’re coaching kids. These kids are playing soccer mostly because they enjoy it. The more they enjoy what they’re doing the more eager they will be to listen and learn what you have to teach them.
Some of these games have names that might indicate to you that they are only for young players. I’ve used them with teams of every age from U8 to U18. I suggest that you use them with any team you work with.
I’m confident that your player will get as much out of them as mine do.
Stuck in the Mud
Rules:
- One ‘It’ player
- Everyone else dribbling
- Stuck if your ball is tagged
- Unstuck by teammate
- Start with one ‘It’ player progress to more
Focus:
- Always be moving
- Keep the ball close and under control
- Protect Ball
- Use the foot farthest from the defender
- Shield
- Face up
- Help teammates
Progressions:
- Set time to get everyone stuck
- Work in pairs
Hospital Tag
Rules:
- Everyone dribbles
- Everyone is 'It'
- Tag a player with your hand
- They have to hold that spot
- When tagged a third time they go to the ‘Hospital’
- Perform five moves or physical exercise before returning
Variations:
- Have players only tag shinguards
- Have players touch the ball
- Tagged player holds a certain part of the body
- Designate one or more ‘It’ players without a ball
Tag
Begin with basic game of tag – no soccer balls. One or more ‘It’ players hold a penny or scrimmage vest. The ‘It’ player tags other player with their hand. That player then becomes ‘It’
Next, EVERY player has a ball – including ‘It’ players. All other rules are the same.
Then progress to having the ‘It’ players run without a ball. They try to touch the soccer ball of the dribblers with their foot. If they do then they get the ball and the other player gets the shirt.
You can progress this further by saying that the ‘It’ player has to TAKE the ball, not just touch it. This means that the players have to fight for possession even if there ball is touched away by the 'It' player.
Possession Coaching Points:
- Protect your ball
- Keep the ball away from the defender
- Use the farthest foot
- Bend your knees and move the ball farther away
- Keep the ball moving
- Look to turn into space
- Don’t just run away
- Be strong on the ball
Defensive Coaching Points:
- Work hard to win the ball
- Tough but Fair
- Give the ball back if accidently foul dribbler
American Gladiators
Set-Up:
Create two or more 10 to 15 yard grids. Six to eight players are on a team in each area. One player from each team is designated as the ‘Gladiator’. On the coach’s signal the ‘Gladiators’ enter the other team’s area and try to knock all of the player’s soccer balls out of the area. The team who lasts the longest wins that round. Play until one team has won certain number of rounds.
Stress of the the coaching points from the previous games that will help the players protect the ball as in the other games.
Variation:
- When a player loses their ball they stay in the area
- Support their teammates who are under pressure
- Receive passes and move the ball away from pressure
- This takes the game from individual to team possession
- When to pass and when to keep the ball
- Spread out and make the area the defenders have to cover large
- Move the ball away from pressure and into space
All of these games require every play to be moving and active. The players each have a ball most of the time so there is a strong technical component to each of these games.
You can have the players perform dynamic stretches between each round to form a complete warm-up. This will have your players physical and technically ready for the session. They will also be engaged and excited about what you have planned for them next.
Here is a link to the printable show notes:
Have a great day!
Tom
