soccer drills and games that help
improve heading skills
distance and power
Use a 10 metre square.
S (server) throws the football to X1, who then has to head the
ball over S to X.
X2 then controls the ball with either foot, chest, or head, then
returns it to S to repeat the practice.
All 3 players in the practice can rotate duties so that all
players get the opportunity to work at heading.
As the players improve, this practice can be performed in a
larger area, although the coach must insist on accuracy as
well as distance (not just distance).
Coaching points
For the player heading:

Eyes on the ball all the time

Move into the line of the service (by using the feet)

Head the ball with the forehead

Almost side-on with the body when heading
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Go for power by using the neck muscles

Try and increase the distance of the headed clearance.
awareness and skill
Many professional clubs, particularly at junior level, use this
practice.
Organisation
Again using a 10 metre square, but starting this time with the
server (S) being no more than 5 metres away from X1 (who
will head the ball). This time a defender (D) is introduced. She
stands 1 metre in front of X1 and to start with remains static.
S lobs the ball above D (who is stationary) and X1 jumps and
heads the ball back to S again insisting on the coaching points
made in the previous practice.
This is repeated several times and the players S, D, + X, can
rotate duties.
To progress D can take a step backward to make it more
difficult for X1 to head the ball.
To progress even further D can jump to try and head the ball
herself – although the server should still lob the ball more
favourably towards X1.
more games that improve heading skills
exercises to teach heading from
crosses
thanks to BruceBownlee.com for these useful exercises
1. Partners with ball, server and header. Seated header from serve back
to server. change roles.
2. Push-up header back to server.
3. Kneeling header back to server.
4. Squatting position diving header
5. Standing 5 yards from server, attack underhanded serve, head to feet,
sprint to opposite side, repeat.
6. Server behind goal to attacking player jogging forward from 18
heading to goal with goalie
7. Add shoulder pressure defender to run with and to jump with
attacking player in step 6
8. Add second attacking player, let defender play full pressure
9. Move service to side channels
10. Move service to two crossing servers in outside channels, play 3 v 3 to
two goals with goalies on short field, add two players in middle who
play for attacking side to give 5 v 3 for team attacking goal each time.
Add a second ball server behind the goal to provide rebounds.
11. Play live, 5 v 5 to goals with goalies, restrict scoring to attacking
headers or rebounds
A coaching point would be that players should make bending runs to goal so
they can open their hips and face the ball coming in from the wing. Most
players will start out by running straight to goal, and you have to train away
from this, starting as soon as you have realistic ball services from the side.
A second coaching point for the 11 steps preceding is that these services
require the player to attack the ball, and most of the services would be lofted
balls, rather than driven balls to the near post.
Another tip that may help you if you move on to near post headers with
driven balls (as opposed to lofted balls at the back post that the 11 steps
above cover): If you do not have the consistent skill to serve a driven ball to
the near post and get the timing just right and not strike it so hard that you
kill one of your starting players, there is a workaround. Lie on the ground
(face up) near the edge of the goal box near the goal-line (on the side of the
goal-area). In this position, you can throw balls with an overhead throw from
this position that have about the right trajectory and pace, and which always
have the correct location. Not perfect, but if you hit the same spot each time,
your players will start redirecting balls into the goal with confidence.
bowling with headers
A fun soccer heading game
one of Ken Gamble's favourite drills

Setup: Depending upon the number of kids divide them into equal
groups of 5-7 players per group. All players in each group form a
single file line except for one player who is the server. The server
uses three standard "flat style" training cones and places them in a
row about 10 feet in front of the first player in the single file line. The
three cones are perpendicular to the single file line and each cone is
about 18" apart. The server places a football on top of each cone.

Play: Each server stands behind his line of three (ball topped) cones
and tosses the ball underhanded to the first person in the line. The
first person in the line tries to head the ball down and knock a ball or
balls off the cones. It's possible but unlikely for one header to knock
all three balls off the cones by knocking one ball into the other balls.
The person who just headed the ball goes to the end of the line. The
server collects the ball and gets back into position behind the row of
cones and serves the ball to the next player in line.

This is a competition between teams/groups. Last group to knock all
three balls off their cones loses and must perform a fun/functional
task - running, push-ups, etc.
Heading practice plan
my thanks to the North Alabama Soccer League or this heading practice session
Warm-up
1. Each player with a football, emphasis on striking the ball at the
hairline. Players self-head ball back to hands as they jog across field and
back. Stop at each line (sideline to sideline) to stretch.
2. Pairs with one ball. Moving across width of field, player running
backwards tosses ball to oncoming player, who alternates heading to
tosser's feet and hands.
3. Pairs with one ball. Tosser on end of grid (15-20 yards long); header
attacks ball for either defensive or attacking headers as he or she moves
forward or backward to play ball.
4. Players with one ball each, head juggling to self. Add movement to a
line and back while working in pairs. Make relay race - return to starting
point if lose control of ball.
5. Pairs juggling. Hit ball twice and return to teammate; 3x, 4x, 5x and
work numbers back to one touch.
Fundamental stage
1. Pairs hold ball head high and head it out of hands (don't toss it).
Forces player to hit through the ball.
2. Pairs, lying on stomach. Use upper back and neck to head for power.
Start with chin tucked down and, as ball is headed, extend forward.
3. Pairs, sitting position with hands and feet on the ground and hips lifted
off ground. As tosser throws ball, header pushes his or her hips forward,
and as they head the ball, drives hips back for power.
4. Sitting position in pairs. Emphasis on arching back, "chin in, chin
forward" head posture as they meet ball tossed by teammate (lack of
backspin on the ball indicates proper striking technique with the head.



Watch that header doesn't drop chin and hit ball with top of head;
Strikes ball at full thrust, meets the ball "out front" of body or in
front of vertical axis of body;
Strikes ball on its top half (offensive heading) and head "down."
5. Kneeling position with hyper extended hips in pairs. Emphasis on
striking "through the ball" with head and upper body to impart power to
ball. Also have follow-through such that header lands on his or her hands
when finished.

Double groups and have two kneeling players self toss and try to
play ball under hands of second player five yards away. Others
have extra balls and retrieve. One-minute games.
6. Standing position in groups of two. Emphasis placed on hips and legs
(staggered positioning of legs) when striking the ball. Watch total
coordinated effort of body in heading. Introduce defensive heading with
emphasis on striking bottom half of the ball for height.

Short, short long game (see Diagram 1 (A)). In groups of four
(extra player with balls), start with player in middle (X1) selftossing and playing a short ball to second player (X2), who then
heads long ball to X3. X3 plays ball into a pivoted X1 who plays
short ball back to X3. X3 then plays long ball to X2, etc. Watch
where surface of the ball is being struck.
7. Groups of three with a player in middle who redirects hand-served
balls to one of the open players (see Diagram 1(B)). Emphasis on varied
serves so that heading player adjusts body position to head the ball "in
front" of them and, as much as posssible, faces with his or her upper
body toward the intended target player.
8. Jumping for headers.
A. Twelve players -- six form circle and hold ball with two hands at head
height for other six players to run at and jump and head clockwise, then
counter-clockwise rotation (see Diagram 2). Rotate player's roles.



Watch for takeoff on foot closest to ball;
Approaching the ball from side, must try to turn so that upper
body is square to ball;
Watch for arch and head thrust as in earlier instruction.
B. Groups of three: tosser, stationary player, header (fourth player with
extra balls.


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Header performs headers over stationary player with two-footed
takeoff from standing start;
Header performs headers over stationary player with short run-up
and one-footed takeoff;
Have stationary player continuously jumping to distract header;
Have headers try to strike balls offensively and defensively;
Have headers try to strike balls to the server who moves to one
side after tossing the ball to the header.
9. One ball per two players. Player performs three headers (offensive,
defensive, his or her choice) with a player with a ball; players then move
to another player with a ball (see Diagram 3). Alternate players with and
without balls Next round - slide left, jump and head; slide right, jump and
head; dive and head.


Drill can be timed (one minute?) and greatest number by each
team can be tallied;
Can require a certain number of headers by each individual and
lapsed time for team.
10. Moving triangle; 2 tosses ball to moving 1, who heads to feet of 3
(see Diagram 4). Change and have head to hands of either the server or
third player (see Diagram 5). Change and have players punt ball out of
hands, rather than toss ball.
11. Three groups of three players organized in triangles, each with a ball
in a large area (see Diagram 6, parts A and B). Balls must always be
tossed to a teammate, but upon toss, header may play ball to an open
player from any triangular group. Repeat as triangles move freely about.
Try with punts from hand and balls played from the ground.
12. 2v2 in 10 x 15-yard grid. Two players must stand on their end line
acting as goalkeepers to defend their goal (the 10-yard line) (see
Diagram 7). The other two players head the ball back and forth and try to
score by heading it over the end line. The ball starts with a toss, but then
must be headed back and forth only. If the ball drops, the two who were
heading retreat to defend their goal line. The other two players pick up
the ball where it dropped and attack by heading back and forth. If the
keepers catch the ball, they start the tossing, heading action, etc. Score
by heading the ball over the keepers (defensive headers) or by playing
ball below head height (offensive heading).
heading to score
a soccer drill from soccerclinicseurope.com
Set Up
2 groups of
players
This football (soccer) drill is designed to improve
the player’s heading ability.
4 cones
Players are divided equally into two groups.
Supply of balls
Goal with nets
One group is positioned behind the goal to recover
missed headers. The second group are split
equally and positioned at two cones placed at the
edge of the penalty area. Two servers, positioned
each side of the goal, serve the ball in the air and
between the two cones placed approximately 12
yards from the goal line.
Penalty Area
Players recovering the balls should ensure there is
a ready supply of ball for the servers.
The players heading receive a throw from the
server diagonally opposite. The ball must be
struck after it passes through the cones. Any ball
struck before passing through the cones does not
count. The group works as a team to see how
many goals they can score in a three-minute
period.
Coaching points: The emphasis should be placed
on accuracy and power. Players should time their
runs so that they do not have to break stride
when heading the ball.