On Saturday I worked out a corner routine to practice movement and positions. It had less of an effect than a simple game of piggy in the middle and turned out that it wasn't much fun for the players. I'm a great believer in giving the team warm-ups that they have fun doing and are easy to set up. I thought giving more complicated things to do would give them a refreshing change... seems I was wrong.

What do you do with warm-ups on match days?  

Over time i have experimented sometimes every week just to change things for the players and to keep things fresh sometimes though like you say even though the idea seems right in practice it doesnt always work and the teams preperation isnt as effective as it should be.

I have settled lately on concentrating on warming up by setting up the team in to three groups with a line of four small marker cones in front of each group. Then a player from each cone jogs up their grid doing different set strecthes at each cone for five seconds each leg (eg right leg lundge on the first cone 5 seconds, left leg next cone 5 secs, right leg again etc until all four cones have been used) Then its a gentle jog back to the start of the grid for the next set. Once the first three cones are clear then the next group of three players begin so this keeps the players moving and reduces any standing around.

This builds up until we finsih with some sort of sprint routine to finish. Then we move onto a game of two teams against each other in possession football at which time an asisstant will take the goalkeeper away to work with him. The possession game prepares them perfectly for being aware, being closed down, closing down, preparing their passing under pressure and marking out of possession. Again this is done in a very controlled manner as to ensure the tackling is sensible and nobody gets too tired too early.

I hold a team talk before the warm up begins then for a couple of minutes after the warm up before kick off.

I look for concentration and application during the entire warm up as i find the more focused and better they are during the warm up the better they start the game.

then i have them circle up for static stretching.  then we go into a crossing and shooting drill while the defenders hit long balls.  the boys are very comfortable with it and feel it really gets them in tune with the upcoming game.

--TJ

For my U12s, we use a fairly simple pregame warmup that has proven itself to get them game ready time and time again.

We start with a dynamic stretch warmup, alternating dynamic stretches and slow jogs for about 50 yards.  Each stretch is done 3 times in the run, with 2 10-yard jogs in between them.  Slow jog back to start and do the next stretch.

We then break down into groups of 3 and do some ball skill work, with a server setting up two rotating players.  We do one touch passes, body traps, heads and volley touches, switching the server every 15 to 20 seconds.  We move from one skill to the other after each girl has served once in that rotation.

After that, we do a 3-4 minutes of movement passing as a group.  My players like to call it "migrating".  We use 4 balls and players simply move amongst each other making passes.  We change the dynamics sometimes, requiring them to play one touch or two touch, or to make a specific turning move before passing.  We focus on passing to space here and not to feet. 

The keeper now goes to the goal to begin warmup there with a coach.  The rest of the girls do a short possession game that we call the "square drill".  Three girls making square passes around a defender.  No diagonals allowed, requiring one of the outside girls to be shifting to create square options.  If the defender gets a touch, she moves outside and the girl responsible for the error goes to defense.  We play a 5 yard perimeter that requires good first touches and proper passing pace to avoid a defender touch.

We then split into 2 groups and play a target scrimmage game.  Again, this activity gives us the chance to alter dynamics, by stressing on certain requirements.  Limited touch, drop passes, etc.

By now, with that complete, the keeper is ready to face shots, so we move to a team shooting warmup that involves combination passing and ends with a shot on goal.  We generally use one of two activities that the girls like.

The important thing is that we give the girls a say in what activities they want to work with and they take the ownership seriously and it's not hard to keep them focused.

We do the whole thing in about 30 minutes and since we require our players to be dressed and ready to warm-up 45 minutes before kickoff, it all works.

I dont think there is a definitive format and formula for this, whatever gets your players confident and prepared mentally and physically from car mode to full speed high gear...and many times I have had to make that adjustment on game day.

It starts that morning/day on the way to the game having the players mentally warm up thinking positive, the right breakfast...etc

Getting to the pitch kicking the ball on thier own, positive talk between team mates.

Getting the team together quick chat before getting the warm up started individual warm up stage shadow dribbling, then passing add in light pressure, increase pressure.... evaluate the players state start warm up activities from there...