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Cool Downs

Ladder Stretch Circle Cool Down

Lengthen the main muscle groups after work

Cool Downs

Ladder Stretch Circle Cool Down is a 8-minute cool downs drill for 2-24 players, suitable for Under 5 to Adults at beginner, intermediate level. You need balls, cones. Below you will find the objective, the set-up, how to run it, coaching points, common mistakes, progressions, regressions and variations.

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Cool Downs
Cool Down
Beginner
Intermediate
Full Squad
Minimal Equipment
Foundation Phase
Youth Friendly
Adult Suitable
Quick 10 Minutes
Progressive

Duration

8 min

Players

2-24

Pitch size

14 x 14 yards

Ability levels

Beginner / Intermediate

Pitch diagram

Pitch set-up: Ladder Stretch Circle Cool Down1214 x 14 yards

Ladder Stretch Circle Cool Down — 4 gates — score by travelling through · 14 x 14 yards

Step 1 of 5Players take turns leading a stretch for the group.

  1. 1. Players take turns leading a stretch for the group.
  2. 2. Hold each stretch for 20-30 seconds without bouncing.
  3. 3. The ball is passed to whoever speaks next.
  4. 4. Players work through the gates in order, starting with the easiest.
  5. 5. Players climb the ladder one level for every clean rep and drop a level on a mistake.
  • Cones mark the area
  • Cone gates to dribble / pass through
  • Ball
  • Solid arrow = pass, thick = shot, dashed = run / dribble

Objectives

  • -Lengthen the main muscle groups after work
  • -Give players ownership of the cool down
  • -Close the session calmly

Setup

  1. 1A wide circle with players spaced an arm's length apart in a 14 x 14 yards area.
  2. 2Lay a line of gates increasing in difficulty away from the start cone.
  3. 3One ball for the talking point.

Coaching instructions

  1. 1Players take turns leading a stretch for the group.
  2. 2Hold each stretch for 20-30 seconds without bouncing.
  3. 3The ball is passed to whoever speaks next.
  4. 4Players work through the gates in order, starting with the easiest.
  5. 5Players climb the ladder one level for every clean rep and drop a level on a mistake.

Coaching points

  • -Hold, don't bounce
  • -Breathe out into the stretch
  • -Every player leads one
  • -Earn the next level with control rather than speed

Common mistakes

  • -Rushing through the holds
  • -Coach doing all the talking
  • -Skipping levels and losing quality

Where this drill fits

Build a session with this drill

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