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How to Do a Proper Youth Soccer Cooldown

Contributor
By eHow Contributing Writer
(8 Ratings)

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.

Difficulty: Easy
Instructions

Things You'll Need:

  1. Step 1

    Understand the cooldown. A proper cooldown is a gradual slowing down of activity, followed by stretching.

  2. Step 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. Step 3

    Put on warm clothing, and cover the legs to keep muscles from tightening in cool weather.

  4. Step 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. Step 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. Step 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.

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on 11/22/2005 Roll your head from side to side. Doing this will prevent neck cramps.

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