Some Good Warm-Up Exercises for Teams U-10 and Below.
Your first warm-up or game can often set the tone for a good practice. Here are a few simple ideas that get kids lots of touches on the ball and help raise their concentration levels for the practice to follow. These exercises also help players practice dribbling and receiving with their right and left feet.
U10+ “FIRST-TOUCH CLOCK” WARM-UP
Why?
- This warm-up lets players practice their first touch on the ball.
- Players practice heading, receiving with different parts of the body, and one-touch volleys and passes.
- Players get focused for practice.
How?
- Half the players, with balls, spread out on the outside of the circle. The other half get ready to move around, in one direction, on the inside of the circle.
- The players on the outside toss the ball to the players on the inside, who practice different first touch skills.
- The two groups switch after every skill to let all players practice the skill.
- This simple warm-up works for headers, volleys (inside of foot, laces), thigh traps, different foot traps (inside, outside, sole), and one -touch passes.
What to Say
- For headers – Focus on the ball, eyes open, and snap your neck through contact to give the header power back to the tosser’s hands.
- For volleys – Keep your ankle locked on contact. Don’t take a big swing. Point your foot where you want the ball to go.
- Keep moving. If someone drops the ball, go to the next “number on the clock.”
U10 MUSICAL DRIBBLING AND PASSING WARM-UP
Why?
- This warm-up gives players lots of touches on the ball.
- Players practice ball control, spatial awareness, and concentration.
How?
- Have players dribble in the center circle or a small grid. Every player has a ball except one “free player.”
- Players dribble with their balls until you yell “switch” or “change,” at which point every player must stop their ball and find a new one to keep dribbling.
- One player will be left without a ball.
- Repeat, letting the players try different moves and turns. Have the players speed up once they get comfortable.
- For older players (U-10+), have half the players get rid of their ball. Players now run around the grid, passing and receiving whenever possible.
What To Say
- Try to keep your head up while dribbling. This helps you avoid teammates and keep the ball.
- Always be ready to stop, or trap, the ball. Keep it close.
- For passing, communicate verbally, or with your eyes, who you want to pass to or receive from.
