Partner 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. 2Pair players up and give each pair one ball and a home cone.
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. 4Partners start together and take it in turns to lead the movement.
5. 5Pairs count how many clean reps they complete together in two minutes.

Progressions

• +Swap partners every round
• +Raise the demand once the group is consistently successful

Regressions

• -Coach works with the pair that needs support
• -Simplify the area or the service until success returns

Variations

• -Run it in threes with one player resting and coaching
• -Run the practice on the opposite side of the pitch

Common mistakes

• -Static stretching before movement
• -Starting at full intensity
• -One partner doing all the work