Aussie rules football is one of the country’s traditional winter games alongside rugby and association football. It is the perfect winter sport: ideal for keeping you warm and active in the colder months whilst being a fast and active sport that can be a little draining in summer!

 

But Aussie rules is a tough sport, and one that requires players to be fit and healthy throughout the colder months of the year. Being Aussie rules match fit in winter will not only ensure that you are up to the opponents’ challenge, but it will also reduce the risk of injury in this hard-hitting sport.

 

Grab your best gear from an AFL store online and get down to the local club - here are some key warm ups to keep you match fit in the Aussie rules winter period:

 

The warm ups

 

Warm ups are imperative for any player looking to avoid injury and this is especially so in the winter months. The colder months of the year can put stress and strain on our bodies, and we are at much greater risk of injury if our muscles and joints aren’t warmed up before the big game.

 

This is why we have to complete a few helpful warm ups pre-match, including:

 

1. Jogging: Jogging around the footy oval is one of the lightest, easiest ways to warm up your body and have it ready for game time. You won’t find a club in the country that doesn’t get the team to jog around the oval in the pre-match warm up, as it truly is one of the most important ways to ensure you are ready for the game and less susceptible to injury.

 

2. Length runs: Aussie rules is a game that requires plenty of speed and agility to be a top player, and so warm up length runs are imperative to warming you up to do them in the actual game. All you have to do is five sets of 20m runs back-and-forward, as this will help prepare you for doing it come the opening bounce.
   

3. Stretching: Both static and dynamic stretching is an imperative part of a pre-game warm up, as your muscles have to be loose and without tension come game time. Tight, tense muscles can easily lead to strains and pulls, and these can be devastating for your AFL season. So be sure to include some serious stretching into your pre-game warm up to ensure your muscles are ready for the match.

 

4. Zig-zag running: AFL is a sport that requires plenty of agility and quick turns to follow the run of play, and so warm ups like length runs and zig-zag running are not imperative to avoiding injury when on the field, but also for preparing you for the match itself. You only have to do a few sets of zig-zag runs to warm yourself up and it will go a long way to helping you when testing your agility on the pitch.

 

5. Ball drills: It’s now time to get your reflexes, hand-passing and kicking ability ready for the match ahead. Simple kicking drills and hand-passing drills go a long way to ensuring your skills are ready when it’s time to play, ensuring your vision, reflexes and more will be up to the challenge of playing in the big match.

 

Don’t skip on these warm ups as they are truly essentially to avoid injury whilst improving your ability to dominate play. You won’t find a team that doesn’t engage in a proper winter warm up, so be sure to include each one in yours and you will be able to fully enjoy the great afl winter game!