The average Sunday League footballer will stretch out all the all the main muscle groups in their legs before kick-off - hamstrings, calves, quads and groins - job done right? Wrong.
Failure to prepare the hip flexors for 90 minutes and your performance could be one to forget.
To the layman the hips serve no significant purpose to the movements of football, but this couldn't be further from the truth.
In actual fact, they play a crucial role in a number of actions relevant to football.
"Hip flexors are really important - they're used for kicking, sprinting, accelerating and explosive sprinting action," Sam Erith, head of sports science at Manchester City, explained to FFT.
To make sure you're able to kick harder and run faster than your opponents, you need to get your hip flexors ready for the activities ahead.
A simple workout with a foam roller is the ideal place to start, as Erith explains.
"The hip flexors is an area that is notoriously tight with footballers because they're so heavily used," he told FFT.
"In the mornings we work with a foam roller. This helps the player loosen up, get rid of any tightness from yesterday's training and get them mobile for the main session."
In this video Erith takes Micah Richards through a typical pre-activation session using a foam roller at City's training ground. Watch and learn.
Micah is an ambassador for If U Care Share, a charity that encourages young people to discuss their problems: www.ifucareshare.co.uk
Also see:
Build explosive power
Boost your hamstring strength
Add an extra spring to your leap
Build bigger and stronger pins
Build knockout knee strength
Build a rock-solid core
Switch on your glutes for 90 minutes: Part one
Switch on your glutes for 90 minutes: Part two
Fire up your hips for action: Part two
Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
