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Cool Downs

Recovery Walk and Talk Cool Down

Bring the heart rate down gradually

Cool Downs
Warm Ups

Recovery 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
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Cool Down
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Intermediate
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Minimal Equipment
Foundation Phase
Youth Friendly
Adult Suitable
Quick 10 Minutes
Recovery

Duration

8 min

Players

2-24

Pitch size

28 x 16 yards

Ability levels

Beginner / Intermediate

Pitch diagram

Pitch set-up: Recovery Walk and Talk Cool Down1228 x 16 yards

Recovery Walk and Talk Cool Down — Circle — pass around and through · 28 x 16 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 move at conversation pace throughout — no sprinting at all.
  5. 5. No score. Finish with the group in a circle for feedback.
  • Ball
  • Dotted arrow = rotation between repetitions
  • Circle organisation — players on the outside
  • 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 28 x 16 yards area.
  2. 2Mark a wide, calm walking loop around the working area.
  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 move at conversation pace throughout — no sprinting at all.
  5. 5No score. Finish with the group in a circle for feedback.

Coaching points

  • -Conversation pace throughout
  • -Deep, steady breathing
  • -Everybody contributes one thought
  • -Breathe steadily and bring the heart rate down

Common mistakes

  • -Racing the loop
  • -Skipping the cool down entirely
  • -Turning a cool down into another competition

Where this drill fits

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