CONTROL SHOOTING PASSING DRIBBLING TURNING HEADING CREATE SPACE INDIVIDUAL DEFENDING SUPPORT PLAY GOALKEEPING CROSSING TACKLING THE THROW IN ATTACKING SET PLAYS DEFENDING SET PLAYS THE FREE KICK

HEADING

Please select a subsection from the topics below :

A basic introduction    Progression   Progression II    Progression III   Progression IV    Going for accuracy    Against opposition    Progression (defence)    Control    Heading for Goal    Practices for Heading    Practice for Heading II    Conditioned Games (Control)    Attack v Defence   Conditioned Games     Heading for Distance   Skilled Touches (Heading)

CONTROL

For many players continually heading the ball, in itself, is important.

Repetitive practice should bring improvement, and for young players familiarity in heading technique.

For example: Practice 1

3 players, X, Y and Z

Y and Z (servers) with a ball each

X faces Y who serves (throws), then X heads the ball back to Y and immediately turns to face Z, who serves, and so on.

Servers must react quickly and also vary the type of serve to X

Practice 2

Three players around 5 metres apart, with one ball.

(Y) the central player is the one under pressure to turn and face each of the other players as the practice progresses

(X) throws the ball up, then heads it to (Y), who heads it back to (X)

(X) then has to head over (Y) all the way to (Z) who then heads it to (Y) who has turned to face him.

(Y) then heads back to (Z) and so the practice goes on. All three players take it in turns at being the player in the middle.

Practice 3

A similar practice but involving greater distance heading and players on the move around the pitch.

Four players (W), (X), (Y) and (Z) positioned around 10-15 metres apart.

Diagram 3

(Z) serves by kicking the ball to (Y) who heads to one of the other players. In the diagram 3, (Y) heads to (X) who heads on to (W) who heads to (Z), who can continue heading to one of the other three players.

Players should concentrate on accuracy, whilst moving around the pitch, and coaches can add a competitive element by counting the numbers of continuous headers made by the quartet.

NB

For young players coaches should reduce distances and start the practice with a ball THROWN to one player.

Players should be around 5 metres apart, and coaches should insist on good technique, and accuracy.

As an alternative for young players, one player could be put under pressure, each one in turn continually heading the ball back to him for a set period of time (one minute) and then players could interchange roles.