How to Do a Proper Youth Soccer Cooldown

One prominent feature of youth soccer is a nearly total lack of a proper cooldown. But a good cooldown is one of the most important aspects of sports and exercise.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Warm clothing
• Distilled Water

1. Understand the cooldown. A proper cooldown is a gradual slowing down of activity, followed by stretching.
2. Cool down every time you play. Don't just walk off a field. Whether at a game or practice, follow cooldown principles after all sports activity.
3. Put on warm clothing, and cover the legs to keep muscles from tightening in cool weather.
4. Do the same stretches as you use in a warmup. The cooldown need not be as elaborate, since its purpose is to unwind, both physically and mentally.
5. Stretch at least the major muscle groups of the legs. Since stretching is best performed on warm muscles, post-activity stretching is very efficient.
6. Drink and eat immediately after playing. Proper rehydration and refueling speeds muscle recovery.

Tips & Warnings

• Educate your child. A proper cooldown is one of the most important aspects of sports and exercise. When stretching, teach the proper names of the muscles, such as hamstrings, quadriceps and so forth.
• Help your coach. The majority of youth soccer coaches don't do a cooldown. Suggest (don't insist or attack) that players take a few minutes to stretch after practice and games.
• Set an example. If your child is not part of an organized team cooldown, do some independent stretching. Others will likely catch on.
• Do it together. Stretch with your child, or practice "buddy stretching," in which you assist your child in doing the stretches.
• Try a hands-on approach. Touch the areas that need to be stretched to make sure that your child feels the stretch in the proper location.
• Check for understanding. Use the cooldown to discuss what your child has learned in practice.