The man in the middle- a warm-up circle

One way of getting your players into the right frame of mind for a match is to use good warm-ups. If you are all in a big circle you can talk to them and remind them about their responsibilties towards the team, the opposition and the officials.

I like to get my players around me and call out to them what they have to do in the circle, and use this time to talk to them about the game. It builds great team spirit.

Mark out a circle in cones that each of your players will stand behind - not to big a circle, you want each player about 5 yards from the centre where you stand.

The players have to react to your call:

Go left – players side step continuously to the left.

Go right – players side step continuously to the right.

2 left or 1 right – players move 1 or 2 cones to the side called.

Middle – players run into the coach and jockey backwards out.

Go – the players sprint across the area and switch places with the player opposite.

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