Travel And Tidy

Objective

• -Lower heart rate after game play
• -Keep players lightly engaged with the ball
• -Reset the group in a tidy format

Setup

1. 1Set up a 22 x 18 yards area with cones.
2. 2Give half the players balls and the rest bibs if you want two groups.
3. 3Players start in small groups along one side of the area.

How to play

1. 1Players dribble slowly across the area and stop at the far side.
2. 2On the coach's call, they swap the ball to a partner and walk back.
3. 3Every return trip includes one easy stretch, such as reaching for toes.
4. 4After two or three rounds, remove the balls and walk as a group.
5. 5Finish with everyone collecting cones or bibs together to help tidy away.

Progressions

• +Progressive Tempo: add a fourth maximal round
• +Ball For Every Player: shrink the working area
• +Reaction Start: two cues, one a decoy
• +Add a competitive scoreline for the last round

Regressions

• -Progressive Tempo: stay at the first two tempos only
• -Ball For Every Player: bigger area, share a ball between two
• -Reaction Start: coach counts players in
• -Simplify the area or the service until success returns

Variations

• -Progressive Tempo — Three rounds: 60% pace, 80% pace, then match pace with full recovery between.
• -Ball For Every Player — Every player works with their own ball so no one waits in a queue.
• -Reaction Start — Every repetition begins from a visual or audio cue rather than a set count.
• -Partner Race — Players work in matched pairs and race each repetition, best of five.
• -Mobility Focus — Each round finishes with a controlled mobility hold for the hips, groin and ankles.
• -Change Of Direction — Add a 90 or 180 degree turn into every repetition before the finish.
• -Team Target — The whole group works to a shared score target and repeats the round if they miss it.
• -Flip the practice to the opposite side of the pitch

Common mistakes

• -Dribbling too quickly
• -Poor spacing
• -Forgetting to calm down