Warming the Players Up

Warm up procedures are totally up to the coach and club, many have developed highly specialised ones that suit their philosophies and players. Under no circumstances is it suggested that these should be replaced in order to to run the Seven Skills Challenges. As ever the challenges are presented as tools, how and if they are used are down each coach.

The only element I would stress is that the challenge warm ups are structured around what is recognised a current best practice. I guarantee that the sprint intervals drill here will involve laughter and the coach having to force the players on to the next element!

These warm ups lean heavily upon the SAQ dynamic flex process. If you wish to know how to do these you will have to purchase one of their books or attend one of their courses. I have done both and have used elements I learned in almost every coaching environment since. This would make them some of the best value for money resources I have ever come across.

The fitness specific warm ups come in the form of mini games. At first the players play the games without a ball in order to learn the format and affordances on offer. Then balls are introduced in order to make the games more competition specific. As they progress up the levels they are required to cover more space, over more time with more repetitions.