SO the cold snap has arrived.

If your game gets the green light this weekend then you’re going to need to pay extra special attention to your warm up. If you don’t usually do one, now would be a good time to start.

Here are some tips to do it like the professionals: Most people forget what a warm up is actually about, and that’s getting warm before you do anything too strenuous, like booting a football the length of the field to a team-mate who’s busy putting up the nets.

That’s the fastest way to pull a hamstring or tear a thigh muscle.

So what’s the best way to warm up? Well, start with a gentle jog. If it’s really cold, do it in the changing room when you’ve got all your layers on by jogging up and down on the spot.

On average, it takes 7-8 minutes to get warm enough so that your muscles and joints are ready for stretching. I’d say that even if you just did this, you’ll be doing something that is better than what most people do.

Most people proceed straight to stretches, but really that should be phase two of your warm-up, because stretching muscles that are cold is likely to do more harm that not stretching at all.

Another thing - resist the temptation to stand and stretch. Why? Because how many times in a game will you ever be stood still and need your muscles to stretch? Not many, so it’s better to prepare your muscles for what they are about to do – or to be more precise, what you need them to do i.e. stretch for a ball, by working and stretching these muscles, on the move. It’s called dynamic stretching. Search the Internet for examples.

Clothing is vital this weekend, too. I’m a big fan of wearing whatever you need to make you play as best you can and to get the best from your body.

Despite what some people say or feel about it, I whole-heartedly encourage wearing gloves and as many layers as you need.

If people think you’re a bit soft, so be it! They’ll be the ones spending all game wasting energy and oxygen by blowing into their hands just to keep them warm.

It’s far more sensible to keep that oxygen in your system for a sprint you might get if you’re a defender or striker chasing after the ball. Let the gloves keep your hands warm and let your body use its energy and blood supply for things that are far more important.

And what should you do after the game? Dare I mention an ice bath...