A warm up game: passing pairs
Valentina Bianchetto uses this warm up game to get her players passing the ball
When Valentina’s article was published on how swimming and her role as a match commissioner aid her coaching, she sent me a fun warm up game that she uses.
“I love to use competitive and fun games, especially in the warm up.” - Valentina
I agree with Valentina, fun games help engage players and games offer context for players to develop.
A warm up game can help engage players with the focus of the rest of the session, as well as mentally and physically preparing them. Here’s a small warm up game you can use as part of your warm up.
Here’s how the game works:
Create a playing area using cones
Organise players into pairs (if there’s odd numbers, one group can be a 3)
Give each pair a ball
Players run around in the playing area, trying to pass the ball to each other
They must pass the ball in as many different ways they can think of (overhead, between their legs, whilst jumping…the list goes on!)
On the coach’s command or whistle blow, the person with the ball has to score a try on the nearest line of cones, whilst their partner has to try and catch them.
You can repeat this game a few times
“It’s a very basic game, but at the same time great for catch-pass, reaction-acceleration, but also social interaction between players!” - Valentina
You can use this warm up game no matter your numbers at training. It’s flexible. You could also progress this warm up game, perhaps returning to it after some activations. Or get players to perform some activation movements after they’ve scored or caught their partner.
Try progressing this game by having players work in 3s or 4s. The player with the ball could be helped by the person who last through the ball to them.
Or you could make it a harder challenge for the ball carrier by having everyone chasing them as they’re trying to make it to the nearest line of cones to score.