Warm ups in soccer are so boring – they don’t have to be though. Yeah, when practice starts you just want to start playing a game right away, with the ball. Why do we have to stretch so much? Aren’t there fun soccer warm up drills?
Can’t we just play keep away all practice long or go right to goal….rondos and piggy in the middle is so fun….but injuries and pulled muscles happen when you least expect it, so you have to stretch and take care of yourself. Soccer seasons are long, warming up and stretching will help you endure a tough series of games and a long season. These dynamic soccer warm up exercises will ensure you are ready to go when the whistle blows.
Why Warm up to Play Soccer?
Warming up as the term implies, does mean, warming the body in preparation for physical activity. Muscles and joints will perform better when warm and you will be less susceptible to injury. Whether getting ready for a game or practice it’s always smart to warm up the body.
Warming up doesn’t just mean stretching. Stretching should be part of the warm up and something that follows a gentle activity that actually warms the body up. There have been various studies and research on the benefits of stretching and whether or not it has any benefit in helping to reduce injuries. The general consensus however, is that it has some benefit and I believe that the whole process of warming the body up and stretching does not only have physical benefits but it also has some mental benefits in helping the individual prepare mentally for the game or activity ahead.
How to Warm Up For Soccer?
For soccer training and matches, I like to get my players to do some gentle jogging and running with various drills that help get muscles and body warm. This part of the warm up can last from 4 minutes to 10 minutes, depending upon the time we have, the activity that will follow and the temperature. Here is an example of this part of the warm up.
Once the running section of the warm up is completed, we start some gentle stretching. There are three main types of stretching that are crucial for soccer warm ups:
- static
- dynamic
- proprioceptive neuromuscular
Static stretching is what we should use to start with. This means holding a stretch for around 15-20 seconds, while holding the stretch, don’t bounce and don’t force the stretch. I suggest, starting at the bottom of your legs and then move up for a good soccer warm ups stretching routine:
- calf
- hamstrings
- thighs
- groin
- hips
- lower back
- shoulders
- neck
Dynamic Stretches
We then move onto some dynamic stretches, which take the body through the types of movement that it would do during the activity. For soccer this means, leg swings, front and back, as well as across the body. These can be done standing up, using a partner to lean on, or as part of some running drills.
PNF stretches, tend to be used more to get extra flexibility and is common with gymnasts and martial artists who need exceptional flexibility. I don’t like to use these stretches with youth players as they require a lot of supervision and there is the risk of over stretching and possible injury.
Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) is a more advanced form of flexibility training that involves both the stretching and contraction of the muscle group being targeted. This type of stretching is done with partners. Where the partner assists the person who is stretching by holding and then pushing a bit to get more of stretch.
If playing a match then some short sprints should be done to get the body and mind working sharper, followed by ball work, otherwise follow with the training session.
Add in some Coerver training routines once you’re more warmed up and feeling ready to play.
TIKI-TAKA | MANCHESTER CITY TRAINING
Pep Guardiola puts the team through their paces as they take on TIKI-TAKA drills and small sided matches in training on Friday! Soccer warm ups should be both fun and competitive to a degree.