"Lateral shuffles, right side first!"
They turned and began shuffling sideways across the pitch, feet never crossing, knees bent, and Demien's thighs started burning within seconds because the senior players moved faster than he expected and he had to push himself to keep up.
"Switch! Left side!"
His legs protested as they changed direction but he gritted his teeth and maintained the pace.
They cycled through more movements—walking lunges that stretched his hip flexors, leg swings that loosened his hamstrings and groin, arm circles and torso twists—until his entire body felt loose and prepared.
"Good! Water break, one minute, then we start!"
Demien jogged to the sideline where water bottles were waiting and grabbed one, taking a long drink while Moretti appeared beside him breathing slightly hard.
"Told you," Moretti said. "And that was just the warm-up."
"Yeah, I'm seeing it."
