Colour Call Ball and Body Warm Up

Objective

• -Raise the heart rate with a ball at every player's feet
• -Take the main joints through their range of movement
• -Start the session with energy and involvement

Setup

1. 1An open square with cones marking the outside edge in a 20 x 20 yards area.
2. 2Use four different cone colours on the corners of the area.
3. 3One ball per player.

How to play

1. 1Players dribble freely, mixing surfaces and speeds.
2. 2On each coach call they add a mobility movement — lunges, hip openers, heel flicks.
3. 3Finish with 30 seconds of quick feet on the ball.
4. 4The coach calls a colour and the group reacts and travels to it.
5. 5Last player to arrive each round picks the next colour — keep it light-hearted.

Progressions

• +Call two colours in sequence
• +Raise the demand once the group is consistently successful

Regressions

• -Point as well as call the colour
• -Simplify the area or the service until success returns

Variations

• -Colours mean a skill instead of a direction
• -Run the practice on the opposite side of the pitch

Common mistakes

• -Static stretching before movement
• -Starting at full intensity
• -Watching the ball and missing the call