Stretching the point

The sight of players turning up late to matches due to poor timing, bad traffic or losing their way en route to an away game is quite commonplace in grassroots soccer.

It may not always be the fault of a player or parent but it does pose a problem for coaches, particularly with regard to last-minute planning and the pre-game warm-up.

At youth level, it is good practice to encourage parents to make sure they arrive in plenty of time for their children to stretch properly ahead of a game.

You could have strict rules that mean if a player turns up late, he or she still has to warm up for 10 minutes even if the game has already started.

After all, there is no point in players simply getting out of the car and running straight on to the pitch - they will not be properly prepared physically or mentally and are more likely to let the team down.

Be sure to greet players on the morning of the game. As they arrive, take the time to have a word with each member of your team - “Is your ankle still sore?”, “Going to add to your goal tally today?”, “Did you enjoy the match last week?” and so on. Talk to your goalkeeper about how well they are playing. It is simple stuff to put players at ease.

"There is no point in players getting out of the car and running on to the pitch..."

The warm-ups themselves should ideally last 15 to 20 minutes. But, on days when things haven’t gone to plan and players are turning up late in dribs and drabs, make sure they each get at least five minutes of warm-up time before they go onto the pitch.

These routines should also factor in the weather. On hot days, less time should be spent on warming up, with the reverse being the case in cooler conditions. The appropriate clothing should also be worn. 

Players need to warm up not just before matches but also prior to their daily training sessions. The intensity of the exercises should increase gradually, although it is important coaches do not wear their players out by making them warm up for too long.

You do not need lots of equipment – it is about getting the players you work with every week to take part and enjoy the “boring bit” before the game or practice gets under way.

Consider also during the game that substitutes will need to warm up for a few minutes so they too are ready to play.

It is as important and effective for everyone playing, even when it is just for fun - and helps in ensuring that the fun las