stretching cold muscles increases the likelihood of doing damage to the muscle. a light warm-up prior to stretching would be recommended. warm-ups would be jogging a lap or two, jumping jacks, etc. i would not call sprints and football drills warm-ups. there are differences of opinion as to when the main stretching should take place, whether before or after the strenuous exercise. my own opinion is to do some light stretching after warm-ups but before the harder exercises, and then to do more serious stretching at the end of practise.

There is a really good warm-up article and video at www.youthfitnessmag.com... It's under training I think.

they should strech before warm ups

Rick is correct. You should never stretch a cold muscle.

Never stretch first. Article upon article over the last two years, more and more university researchers have come the same conclusion. No stretching before exercise. Its limits muscle strength gains, and increase the % of injury. Do dynamic warm ups. Things like arms circles, push ups, high knees, butt kicks, light jogging, jumping jacks, working into sprints, skipping, bounding etc. Stretching should be done on the off days or early mornings the day after exercise.