Session starters that actually prepare players

Goal: 2 warm up games that start to test decision making from the very start

Article Structure

• Typical warm ups

• 2 warm up arrival ideas

• Coaching takeaways

What does good look like?

We've all seen them and we've all probably been a part of them. Players need them, but how often do you hear "I love the warm ups"? Not enough. We've all seen warm ups that tick the box but do little do prepare players for whats next.

The issue is warm ups are often mindless movement, not game preparation.

So lets look at 3 simple small sided arrival games to engage body and brain, suitable for any age group or level.

Warm up idea 1 - Keep v Recover Rondo

Layout: Two even sized areas

How it plays: Red team start with the ball, every 3 passes, another member of the blue team can enter the area to try and win the ball back, when they do, blue team get the ball back to their half, and then the red team send one in at a time.

Differentiation: Even if you have odd numbers, this is a good one to do as there will always be temporary overloads.

Coaching prompts: When trying to keep possession, what is important from the person on the ball and the support players around the ball carrier? When trying to win the ball back, in underloads, what should the player applying pressure be trying to do?

Warm up idea 2 - Endzone Turn & Burn

Layout: Two even sized endzones

How it plays: Blue team try and receive the ball in one endzone, once they do, they keep the ball and try and receive it in the opposite zone.

Coaching prompts: In possession, can we go quickly before the other team "get set". Out of possession, which area are we showing the other team into to win the ball?

Coaching takeaways

A great warm sets the tone and tempo of the session. In addition to these two games you can also play just simple possession with a theme or constraint added, just to give some direction or purpose (forehand only, 2 touch etc.).

Remember, warm ups should energise, not exhaust.

Ask yourself: Can I link the theme of the session into the warm ups with a constraint?

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Share your go to warm ups with the Agora community and we'll feature some community favourites next month: https://theagoraspace.slack.com/archives/C09PU6PCQF6