Six warm-up drills that work with any age group

A good warm-up does three jobs: it raises the heart rate, gets the ball at every player's feet and sets the tone for the session. These drills need nothing more than balls, a few cones and bibs.

1. Gate dribbling

Scatter pairs of cones around a square. Players dribble through as many gates as they can in a minute, then try to beat their score.

2. Rondo 4 v 1

Four players keep the ball away from one defender in a small box. Whoever gives the ball away swaps into the middle.

3. Mirror moves

In pairs, one player leads with skills and turns while the other copies. Swap roles every 30 seconds.

4. Passing triangles

Groups of three pass and follow their pass around a triangle, switching direction on the coach's call.

5. Traffic lights

Great for younger players. Green means dribble, amber means slow down with the sole of the foot, red means stop the ball dead.

6. Small-sided finisher

End the warm-up with a three-minute 3 v 3. It is the drill every player looks forward to.

Rotate two or three of these each week so warm-ups stay fresh and players arrive knowing what to expect.