I have been roped in to deliver a 1 hour ‘fitness training’ programme for my lads under 12 football team. Tomorrow morning.

I teach kickboxing, so have no problem with the delivery side…although I suspect that the coach wouldn’t want his squad punching and kicking the opposition!

Any tips for structuring a session that will be of use to the lads? I guess some interval runs followed by some circuits would be a start – any other ideas?

Ta

You’ve been roped in to teach fitness with your background of kickboxing and not your footballing knowledge, would it be churlish to suggest kickboxing?

I think I am the least fat parent, and the regular coach is away…I doubt it has anything to do with my specialist subject!

Get some leg and stability workouts.

Something different to football as don simon states ^^^ but works the legs.

Squats, stances, knee off the ground one inch etc and a fun game.

How long are you training them for? add 15 mins more exercises.

Teach about stretching, cooling down – have a game like the longest plank and a reward.

One touch football too?

Have fun.

Like it ^ cheers…

I thought finish with a game of bulldog!

There 12 so keep it fun! I was going to suggest rush ie the non tackling version of Britih Bull dog plus shuttles dressed up as team relays.

Make sure you stick with playing football of some sort… training feels crap when you hardly ever kick a ball. the one touch football is great training. some smaller 5-aside games at the end on a small pitch also maybe?

Whatever you do, you must have them finish with a set of doggies. You’ll win their respect forever 😯

If having a game of British Bulldog, give them bibs to tuck into the back of their shorts which must be pulled out completely instead of just being tagged. We found it stops any arguments.
With regards to fitness training, we were told at coaching courses to give them as much time on the ball as possible. At that age they don’t want to just run. Even the warm up involved dribbling with the ball. Unless they live in their room, on the ps3 or Xbox all day and their diet consists of McDonald’s then they should be reasonably fit for their age. That was our experience anyway.

I thought finish with a game an hour of bulldog!

If having a game of British Bulldog, give them bibs to tuck into the back of their shorts which must be pulled out completely instead of just being tagged. Stops any arguments. Induces wedgiefest.

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dP66T8ktiTA[/video]

Watch this and you’re sorted.

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9VKHydqf_U[/video]

Teach them some professional fouling techniques, new swear words, sliding tackles and even how to punch properly just in case..
you will become a god.