After the final whistle the team jogs lightly and then performs gentle stretching. That short session is the cool-down. It helps the body transition from high effort back toward a resting state.

Light aerobic activity clears metabolic by-products and gradually lowers heart rate. Stretching targets the muscles most used during the contest or training session. A structured cool-down can reduce stiffness the following day and provides a psychological close to the work just completed.

Skipping the cool-down is common when schedules are tight, yet the few minutes invested often repay themselves in faster recovery. Coaches who consistently include cool-downs signal that recovery is part of performance, not an afterthought.

The cool-down is the final training act of the day.