Spring has arrived, and with it, the outdoor football season. After weeks spent indoors or on artificial turf, it’s finally time to get back onto real natural grass. To ensure a successful start and get you through the second half of the season injury-free, a quick spring check-up is well worth it.
1. Your body: increase intensity gradually
Switching from indoor or artificial surfaces to natural grass is an adjustment for the body. The ground is softer and more uneven, changing the strain on your ankles, knees, and muscles. Therefore, increase your intensity step by step during the first few weeks. Anyone who starts shooting and sprinting at full power in the very first session risks pulling a muscle.
- Warm up for longer during the first weeks on grass
- Do strength exercises for your ankles and thighs
- Allow for sufficient recovery between high-intensity sessions
2. Equipment: check your boots and ball
On natural grass, you need different footwear from what you wear indoors. Check whether your studded boots are still in good condition and whether the studs are appropriate for the surface. On soft spring grass, longer studs provide better traction. The ball also deserves a look: is it still round, and does it hold pressure? A worn-out ball can distort your shooting feel.
3. Technique: shake off the rust
After the winter, your first shot on real grass often feels unfamiliar. The ball bounces differently, distances are larger, and your timing needs to be recalibrated. Consciously take time during the first few weeks for the basics: passing over various distances, ball control, and simple shots.
4. Goals: what do you want to achieve in the second half of the season?
Spring is a great moment to set concrete goals for the rest of the season. Perhaps you want to score more goals, improve your weak foot, or become more confident with volleys. Write down your goal and think about how you can work on it in training.
A four-week plan for the volley
If your goal is more reliable finishing, here is a simple structure for your first four weeks on grass:
- Week 1: Volleys from a stationary ball at 10 cm, focus on the point of contact
- Week 2: Increase height to 20 cm, focus on keeping your upper body over the ball
- Week 3: 30 cm height and aiming for the corners
- Week 4: Thrown balls and volleys after a short sprint
For the first three weeks, the VOLLEYCHAMP® is ideal because the ball is at the same height every time. This allows you to focus fully on your movement and quickly notice if you are making progress.
5. For clubs: pitch and training organisation
Spring is also a time of transition for clubs. Pitches have to be shared and training times rescheduled. If you plan your training in stations, you can keep many players active at once, even in a small space. A technique station with volleys, one for passing, and one for dribbling: this way, everyone gets plenty of touches on the ball, and nobody has to wait long.
The World Cup as motivation
The World Cup begins in just under two months. In Group B, the national team faces Qatar, Bosnia and Herzegovina - who sensationally beat Italy in the play-offs - and co-hosts Canada. For many players, this is the perfect motivation to work on their form this spring. Who knows, maybe there will be a volley competition at a big-screen screening this summer.
Conclusion
A good start to the grass season lays the foundation for a successful second half of the season. Take time for your body, check your equipment, and work specifically on your technique. Then, nothing stands in the way of a successful spring.
