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Cool Downs

Ladder Walk and Talk Cool Down

Bring the heart rate down gradually

Cool Downs
Warm Ups

Ladder Walk and Talk 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
Warm Ups
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

26 x 14 yards

Ability levels

Beginner / Intermediate

Pitch diagram

Pitch set-up: Ladder Walk and Talk Cool Down1226 x 14 yards

Ladder Walk and Talk Cool Down — 4 gates — score by travelling through · 26 x 14 yards

Step 1 of 5Players walk the loop in small groups at conversation pace.

  1. 1. Players walk the loop in small groups at conversation pace.
  2. 2. Each group answers one reflection question from the coach.
  3. 3. Finish in a circle with light stretching.
  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

  • -Bring the heart rate down gradually
  • -Reflect on the session while moving
  • -Finish with the group together

Setup

  1. 1A gentle walking loop marked with cones in a 26 x 14 yards area.
  2. 2Lay a line of gates increasing in difficulty away from the start cone.
  3. 3A few balls for light passing on the loop.

Coaching instructions

  1. 1Players walk the loop in small groups at conversation pace.
  2. 2Each group answers one reflection question from the coach.
  3. 3Finish in a circle with light stretching.
  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

  • -Conversation pace throughout
  • -Deep, steady breathing
  • -Everybody contributes one thought
  • -Earn the next level with control rather than speed

Common mistakes

  • -Racing the loop
  • -Skipping the cool down entirely
  • -Skipping levels and losing quality

Where this drill fits

Build a session with this drill

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