Arrival Activities. What are they and why use them

Arrival Activities take place at the very start of a session and serve a number of purposes:

1. Create a 'football mindset' - players get into good habits and begin playing contolled football immediately

2. Allow coaches to set up separately. Especially useful when time is pressured i.e. on astroturf sessions

3. Independence: players can set up the activity and run it autonomously 

4. Enjoyable for the players who can select their activity once familiar with them

5. Reduces chaos: no balls flying around (aimlessly smashing the ball at the goal and each other)

6. Can be specific to the forthcoming session i.e. dribbling 1v1

7. Warms players up with a ball at their feet

8. Player feel comforted with the structure and can self-govern...no awaiting instruction from the coach