Soccerexercises for technique warming-up
Last update: january 2026
Plank 30 seconds
- On forearms and toes
- Back straight, abdominal muscles engaged
- Do not sag!
- Lie on your back, hands behind your head
- Alternately bring your elbow to the opposite knee
- Slow pace, focus on control
- Lie on your back, knees bent
- Hips up, tighten abdomen and buttocks
- Hold, return slowly
- Sitting position, feet off the ground
- Rotate your upper body from left to right
- Optionally with ball or bottle
- On your side, support on forearm
- Hips off the ground, body in a straight line
- Switch sides after 30 seconds
- Lie on your stomach
- Arms and legs off the ground, hold
- Strengthens lower back and gluteal muscles
Setup
- Set up the situation twice.
- Begin with a speed ladder where players move sideways through it.
- Place two feet in the ladder and one foot outside the ladder.
- Next, there are three hurdles from low to high, which must be jumped over.
- Along the way, players take a bag from the bucket with them.
- Which team has all the bags on the other side first and then sprints first to the opposite side?
- The final sprint may only be started once the last bag has been placed down.
Initial Setup
- Each player receives a number.
- Swiss ball is placed in the centre.
- Players stand in a circle around the Swiss ball.
- Players move sideways or backwards-forwards around the ball.
- When a number is called, the player responds, takes the ball and throws it at the retreating players.
- Add-on: The player who is hit takes the Swiss ball and tries to hit another player.
- Move around the circle.
- Respond to changes in direction.
- Improve movement, enhance focus.
Lap Around the Field
- Jog along the long sides.
- Walk along the short sides.
- Stand upright with feet hip-width apart.
- Perform 20 squats at a slow pace.
- Stand upright with feet hip-width apart.
- Start with arms extended above your head.
- Let your arms fall alongside your body as you bend your knees.
- Swing your arms backwards and jump while moving your arms forwards and upwards.
- Keep your back straight, hips back, and feet flat on the ground.
- Basic position: stand upright with feet slightly apart.
- Step your right leg straight forward and bend the knee 90 degrees, left knee as close to the ground as possible.
- Rise up and step your right leg to the right side, bending your left knee.
- Return to the basic position and step your right leg backwards, bending your left knee.
- Repeat with the left leg.
- Make a lap around the field.
- Jog along the long sides.
- Sprint along the short sides.
Jumping and Hoops
- The player jumps over the hurdle.
- Then jump with one foot into the hoop and back.
- Repeat this until the end.
- Jump laterally over the hurdle.
- Then jump with one foot into the two hoops.
- At the outer hoop, jump back next to the hurdle.
- Jump laterally over one hurdle and back.
- With one large step, jump to the other hurdle.
- Jump over it and back.
- Sprint to the cone and then over the ladder.
- Ensure good balance when jumping on one foot.
- Try to perform the exercises in a smooth motion.
Setup
- Position the players in a line next to each other.
- Place a tennis ball approximately 1 metre in front of them on the ground.
- Have the players stand with their feet slightly apart.
- Have the players jog on the spot with a quick pace.
- On the trainer's signal, they perform the following tasks while jogging:
- Hands on the knees.
- Hands on the toes.
- Hands on the shoulders.
- Hands forward.
- Hands in the air.
- When the trainer shouts "Ball!", they grab the ball as quickly as possible.
- Repeat and vary the commands for diversity.
Execution
- Divide the players into groups of 2 or 3 and place them on the left side of the field.
- Give each player a tennis ball.
- At the start signal, the first player of each group runs with a ball to the right side of the field.
- Upon arrival, the player places the ball outside the line and runs back as quickly as possible.
- Player 2 can now start with his or her ball.
- The game ends when all balls are on the right side and the last player is back with the group.
- The first group to be completely back wins.
Walk Straight Forward
- Jog to the last cone. Keep your upper body upright. Hips, knees, and feet should form a line. Do not let your knees buckle inward. Run slightly faster on the way back. Repeat the exercise twice.
- Jog to the first cone. Stop and bring your knee forward and upward. Rotate your knee outward and place your foot down. Keep your pelvis horizontal and your upper body still. Repeat with the other leg. Jog back after the course. Repeat the exercise twice.
- Jog to the first cone. Stop and bring your knee sideways upward. Rotate your knee inward and place your foot down. Keep your pelvis horizontal and your upper body still. Repeat with the other leg. Jog back after the course. Repeat the exercise twice.
- Jog to the first cone. Shuffle sideways to your partner. Circle around each other without changing your direction of view. Slightly bend your hips and knees. Shift your body weight to the balls of your feet. Jog back after the course. Repeat the exercise twice.
- Jog to the first cone. Shuffle sideways to your partner. Jump towards each other in the middle for shoulder contact. Land on both feet with bent hips and knees. Shuffle back to the first cone. Jog to the next cone and repeat. Jog back after the course. Repeat the exercise twice.
- Run quickly to the second cone. Run backward to the first cone. Keep hips and knees slightly bent. Run two cones forward and one back each time. Jog back after the course. Repeat the exercise twice.
Execution
- Divide your team into four groups of four players, each with one ball.
- Players pass the ball around within their team in the designated area.
- Players must remain in constant motion with frequent changes of pace to find space.
- Each team should attempt to maintain a diamond shape.
- Communication is essential; players must call for the ball and shout the name of the teammate to whom they are passing.
- Passes must be precise, either into the space or to the feet of the teammate.
- Players must not touch each other, and the balls must not collide.
- This exercise requires great attentiveness from the players.
- Add a passive defender who can defend any ball.
- Add an active defender who is allowed to win the ball.
Execution
- Mark out an area of 30 by 40 metres.
- Assign each player a number.
- Players pass in numerical order: from player 1 to player 2, to player 3, and so on, while moving through the area.
- Use 2-3 balls to increase speed and awareness.
- Ensure players move throughout the entire area and do not just stand close to the players they need to pass to.
- Players must call for the ball when it is their turn and shout the name of the player they are going to pass to.
- Have players perform specific actions when making a pass, for example: play the ball into the run.
- The receiving player must accelerate.
- The odd numbers may only touch the ball once, the even numbers twice.
- Alternate these rules.
Formation
- The players position themselves in a circle. Ideally, there are 6 to 8 players per circle. There is only one ball per circle.
- A player passes the ball to another player and follows the ball towards the player he passes to. The second player receives the ball and passes it to another player in the circle, also following the ball. This process continues to repeat.
- Passes must be clear and accurate. The passes are played on the ground, keep the ball low!
- Just after the pass, players accelerate with a short sprint.
- Players call out the name of the player they want to pass to.
- All players are constantly on their toes, not flat-footed, to improve speed of action.
- You can make the game more challenging by applying one-touch play.
- You can play with two balls.
Formation
- Form groups of two players. Each group has one ball.
- Players with the ball stand on the sideline.
- The other players stand opposite them, approximately 6 metres away.
- Player A dribbles forward while Player B jogs backwards.
- Player A passes the ball to B, who passes it back to A.
- Repeat this until the other sideline is reached.
- Switch roles when the other side of the field is reached.
- Player A walks backwards to the starting line.
- Alternate passes between the right foot and the left foot.
- Try to use one-touch passing; only if necessary, the ball may be touched twice.
- Focus on quality over speed; it is not a race.
- Encourage successes!
- Play the ball to the thigh, bring under control, and volley back.
- Play the ball to the chest, bring under control, and volley back.
- Play the ball to the head, head the ball back.
Description
- Players dribble in a rectangle with various cones.
- They must not dribble over the cones and should avoid collisions with other players.
- The coach gives different tasks.
- Dribble with the inside of the right foot.
- Dribble with the inside of the left foot.
- Dribble with the outside of the right foot.
- Dribble with the outside of the left foot.
- Dribble with the ball between both feet.
- On signal, stop the ball with the sole and change direction.
- On signal, dribble to a cone and turn around the cone with the ball.
Setup
- Have the players form a circle approximately 15 meters away from you. You stand in the middle of the circle.
- Players start in their position in the circle and keep "jogging" on the spot. Call out "inward" and all players sprint towards you until they are about two meters away. Then they turn around and quickly sprint back to their position, where they remain in motion.
- Call out "outward" and all players sprint away from you. When you call "back," all players return to their starting position in the circle.
- Ensure that players are not standing flat-footed, but always on their toes. Players should be sweating profusely after this activity.
- Add variations such as sit-ups, push-ups, jumping, high knees, or sprinting to the right or left while maintaining the circular formation.
Stand in a square per 4
Pass the ball around with the following commands
Pass the ball around with the following commands
- Pass to player on your left
- Pass to player on your right
- Pass in turn to player next to you and diagonally (Next to - Diagonal - Next to - Diagonal - ...)
- Pass to player next to you. A player may return the ball max 1 time per turn.
Variations
- Pass with left or right
- With or without stopping
- Stop left, pass right or vice versa
Note on numbers
Combine with pass exercise where 2 or 3 players face 2 or 3 players: pass, follow ball and join others
Combine with pass exercise where 2 or 3 players face 2 or 3 players: pass, follow ball and join others
Individual
- throwing the tennis ball up and catching it
- throwing the tennis ball up, clapping it in your hands and catching it again
- leading tennis ball with the foot - inside -and outside
In pairs:
- throwing the tennis ball at each other and catching it
- tennis ball simultaneously at each other
- throw the tennis ball and catch it with the cone
- shoot the tennis ball at each other and stop with the foot
- Distance about 10 meters
- Walking exercise: first easy walking pace 3x
- Have players stand side by side in place;
- have leg lifted at hip height and arm forward so the finger comes up to shoulder height.
- Then walk at pace,
- have leg lifted to hip height and arm forward so finger comes up to shoulder height.
- If right leg goes up then left arm should also go up. The rest of the body remains still. 10x at a slow pace.
- Then accelerate 10x while ensuring that the player performs the exercise correctly technically as described above.
- Split team into two groups.
- Plot field: Two rows with two pawns facing each other at a distance of about 15 meters.
- Each team runs behind each other each time between the two pawns and around the other pawn and back again.
- Jogging 2 laps around half a field or back and forth across the width of the field 4 times
- 3 x 8 times lifting knees backwards, jogging backwards
- 3 x 8 times heels buttocks outward, back jogging
- Outward jog with single arm swing, left 3 to 4 times and then right 3 to 4 times, then left again, etc.
- Back jog with both arms forward, 3 a 4 times, then both arms back 3 a 4 times and repeat
- Sideways jumping jack movement back and forth, changing direction you are facing every 3 passes.
- Cross passes back and forth, every 3 passes changing direction you are facing.
- Walking backwards outward, sideways backward movement 3 steps left, 3 steps right back
- Low tripling out, high tripling with knee lift back
- Lunge passes forward outward, jog backward
- Light tempo acceleration outward to max 60%, and light tempo acceleration back to max 60%
- Everyone together in circle with sufficient distance.
- Arms swing backwards left and right, feet light spread position.
- Arm check and turn back foot in slightly on the front of your foot
- arms turn around making big circles
- up and down left and then right, feet slightly spread out
- mill swings, light spread position, slightly bent knees.
- With your left hand to your right foot, right hand in the air and check, then with your right hand to your left foot and with the left hand in the air and check.
- 10 times left and 10 times right.
- Arms swing backwards left and right, feet light spread position.
Square 15m x 15m2
or 3 players per pawn, goalkeeper in goal.
or 3 players per pawn, goalkeeper in goal.
- Player A & B are defenders, C & D the attackers.
- A plays ball vertically to D, after which a game of 2 v 2 starts.
- Attackers try to score after 2 or 3 passes.
- Defenders may intercept ball and score themselves.
After goal or ball outside next wave.
Players going down field turn clockwise to next pawn; A to B, B to C and so on.
Exercise ends when everyone has played at least 4 times; 2x attack and 2x defense.
Players going down field turn clockwise to next pawn; A to B, B to C and so on.
Exercise ends when everyone has played at least 4 times; 2x attack and 2x defense.
Finishing exercise in triangles.
Square 15m x 12m with extra pawn position 10, at middle height of top, max 3 meters higher.
Square 15m x 12m with extra pawn position 10, at middle height of top, max 3 meters higher.
- A plays to E
- E back to A
- A plays to D
- D plays to E and runs to next pawn towards goal
- E lateral to D
- D finishes on goal
Immediately after the shot, the same exercise, but on the other side:
- B plays to C
- C back to B
- B plays to D
- D plays to C and runs to next pawn towards goal
- C lateral to D
- D finishes on goal
After each goal attempt, move to the next position: A to E, E to D and D to A; same on the other side: B to C, C to D and D to B.
Player who kicked takes ball.
Everyone at least 3x kicks at goal.
Player who kicked takes ball.
Everyone at least 3x kicks at goal.
Divide the group in pairs and put each pair at a cone/hat, which you have divided on the centre circle:
- Leave the ball, which is at every cone, on the ground and let the whole group run around the circle;
- Make sure every pair is standing at a cone with the ball;
- Player 1 dribbles the ball to the centre spot and puts it down there;
- On the way back (without ball), Player 1 performs exercises (e.g. knee lifts);
- At the moment Player 1 returns, Player 2 starts the same exercises (e.g. knee lifts) and then retrieves the ball;
- Repeat and be creative with the exercises.
- Warming up with the ball 10 minutes
- 1 Passing
- 2 Bouncing
- 2 Passing
- 1 Dribble
- 1 Passing
- 2 Boucing
- 2 Crossing
- Dribble
- Perform the exercise so often that no one has to sit still.
- Coaching the above mentioned techniques.
- Motivate the players to complete the exercise within the given time.
- Every training session 5 seconds faster.
- A variation or addition is to have players run and pass the ball in diagonal lines.
- On the left, 3 jars (white) are set 10 feet apart (first jar 10 feet from the line).
- On the right 3 jars (blue) are put, again with 10 feet in between, but these start on the line.
- We make so 3 streets, exercises are executed in the street and they'll be connected again via the zebra crossing (space between the streets).
- Walking direction white caps is with left foot, walking direction blue caps is with right foot
Exercises
- Tap tap stop (same foot)
- Tap stop (not from jar to jar but straight through the street), alternate feet and try to tap as much as possible
- Tap-tap drag
- Tap-tap make a V
- Tap tap cap
For the better players this can be extended with
- Tap behind supporting leg
- Tap the crossover
- Tap tap scissors
- Tap tap Cruyff move
This exercise can be used in every training as a warming up.
- Split group into 2 groups.
- 1 group starts with exercise 1.
- 1 group starts at exercise 2.
- 4 minutes per exercise with 2 min rest.
- Exercise 1:
- Running Ladder:
- Knees low frequency high.
- Low hurdles:
- Punching jumps.
- Zig zag pawns.
- Sit low and moment at pawn short.
- Sticks LOOP.
- Running Ladder:
- Exercise 2:
- Running Ladder:
- Sideways knees high.
- High hurdles:
- Hopscotch jumps.
- Zig zag forward.
- Canes SPRING.
- Running Ladder: