There is a lot of focus on warm up for practices, but the cool down is equally important. A good cool down will help cool the muscles and slow the heart rate, but even more importantly, cool downs can help players to keep playing, and not being side-lined with muscle injuries. In today’s video blog post, we are sharing a great set of cool down drills that you can begin implementing into your practice plan today!
Cool Down Tips
1. Muscles need to be worked to get new oxygen in and remove the waste by-products of exercising. Have players run a lap around the field of playing, then sit them in a circle to stretch their muscles to get fresh blood in them as it help strengthen them.
2. Arm windmills, neck circles and hurdler’s stretches are a must. Twisting exercises that stretch the side muscles and back also are good. Take the lead and give an example – sit on the ground, placing the foot of a bent leg on the opposite side of an outstretched leg’s knee, and twist the other way.
3. Do not over stretch in the cool down phase since the muscles are being relaxed. If any sore spots are found during stretching, apply ice.