Conditioning drills for U6-U8

Activate with the ball. Perform quick ball-mastery touches with light feet, take a clean first touch, pass accurately to your partner, and build the tempo gradually.

Lower the heart rate and lengthen the muscles. Pass gently to your partner, hold a light stretch between passes, and breathe slowly to finish the session calm and loose.

Coordination and knee lift. March through the low hurdles with a high knee and a steady rhythm, one step between each.

Prime the feet and reactions. Move through the ladder with fast, light steps, explode out of the last rung, and receive and return the pass cleanly on the burst.

Ease down at the slowest pace: short, soft passes at walking tempo, gentle mobility, and steady breathing.

Wind down in pairs: soft passes, gentle movement, and light mobility to lower the heart rate and stay loose after hard work.

Warm up on a wet pitch: firm driven passing and a positive first touch, adjusting to a fast, skidding surface.

Warm up the touch and passing indoors: sharp one-touch passing around the box, adjusting to a fast, true surface.

Warm up the touch, passing, and movement. Pass around the box, step in to receive on the half-turn, and gradually lift the tempo without straining.

Warm up young players through play: move across the channel as different animals to mobilise the whole body and build coordination.

Raise the heart rate and mobilise the whole body before training: move through a dynamic-stretch sequence with control and full range.

Warm up young players through a reaction game: start, stop, freeze and turn on the coach's colour calls.

Cool down after training. Jog at an easy, continuous pace to lower the heart rate, keep the breathing relaxed, then hold static stretches for the main muscle groups.

Activate for training with short reactive sprints. Explode out on the call, decelerate and change direction under control, and recover to the base ready for the next, building intensity gradually.

Carry the short shuttle under control. Keep the ball close with a touch every stride, turn cleanly at the cone, and bring it back under control.

Carry the shuttle at speed. Push the ball ahead and run onto it out to the cone, turn tightly, and drive it back, keeping a touch on it the whole way.

Learn the rhythm. Step one foot per rung with a tall posture and a steady, even beat before any speed is added.

Fast, light feet. Two quick contacts per rung with a tall posture and light steps, then explode out of the top of the ladder.