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TITLE: Across-Field Warm-Up

PLAYERS: 2 players

DURATION: 10 minutes

TAGS: U8, U9, U10, U11, U12, U13, U14, U15, U16, U18, 11-a-side, 9-a-side, 7-a-side, 5-a-side, Beginner, Developing, Passing

DESCRIPTION: A pre-game technical warm-up where pairs jog across the field practising volleys, thigh traps, chest traps, and headers with one player throwing the ball to their partner across the pitch width.

OBJECTIVES:
- Warm up muscles before a game or training session
- Practise receiving and controlling flighted balls with various body parts
- Build coordination and body position for aerial control

EQUIPMENT: Soccer balls (one per pair)

MAIN ACTIVITY: Divide team into pairs with 1 ball per pair. Player 1 stands along the touchline; Player 2 starts 3-5 yards away facing them. Player 2 holds the ball in their hands and jogs backwards across the field while tossing the ball to Player 1. Player 1 jogs forward, receives the ball, and returns it. At the far touchline, roles reverse to return. Work through these variations each crossing of the field: (1) Inside-foot volley back to thrower, alternating feet; (2) Instep volley, alternating feet; (3) Thigh trap and return; (4) Chest trap and return; (5) Headers back to thrower including jumping headers; (6) Reverse: thrower jogs forward, receiver jogs backwards.

COACHING POINTS:
- Good body positioning behind the ball
- Controlled touches before playing ball back
- Getting a good warm-up

PROGRESSIONS:
- N/A — adapt difficulty by reducing distance for younger players