Heading

Purpose:

By the end of the session the players should understand proper heading techniques learned while playing fun competitive games. The session begins with heading and progresses into finishing and ends with a game that combines finishing with an emphasis on heading when possible.

Equipment:

Cones, pinnies, balls.

Progression:

Fundamental:
The session begins with no pressure and the players moving in a circle looking to head the ball back to the players on the outside. Coaching points should be made here on the technique of heading, especially the movement of the core of the body. Progress to heading in the air and the proper technique involved there.

Match Related:
The practice moves into the game stage here as the players are looking to move the ball from side to side with the only way to score points is thru a header. The players will learn how to add velocity to the head ball as without it scoring will be difficult. The session then moves to finishing with the feet in the same game with the focus being on accuracy as opposed to power.

Match Condition:
Finish with two games that encourage quick ball movement and understanding of off the ball movement and decision making. The first focuses on finishing with the feet, the second adds the emphasis to finishing with the head.

Coaching Points:

• Get both feet set on the ground in a stagger stance to keep stability
• Get your hands up to keep stable as well.
• Lean back with feet planted and snap through with head and back for power.
• Keep eyes on the ball.
• Strike ball with the top part of the forehead to minimize injury and to maximize directional force.
  In the air, get up in the air and strike the at or near its maximum point.
• Keep the body facing one direction to add power.
• Look to place the ball downward with power and accuracy
• Snap the body thru to add power.
  

• Understand power vs placement.
• When close to the goal placement is more important than power.
• Open the foot up, strike with the inside of the boot, following thru to add velocity to the shot.
• Keep weight forward
• Follow thru
• Place side net if possible, keeping low.
• When further away strike with laces to drive, outside of foot to bend away or inside of foot to bend with power.
• Keep weight over the ball
• Follow through with foot
• Land on shooting foot for optimal power and weight transfer.
• Toe pointed down
• Ankle locked
• Head over knee over toe.

Activity

Setup

Technique training in a 40x40

• Players pair up, all players with a ball.
• The players walk around hitting the ball out of their hands towards the ground.
• Progress to one ball per two partners, both kneeling about 3 yards apart.
• One throws the ball, the other falls forward, snapping the back thru heading the ball back to their teammate. Motion is continuing and player ends in push up position on the ground.
• Players progress to standing, but with a similar idea. One throws, the other heads the ball back with the emphasis on technique, with feet in solid position, and body moving thru the ball.
  

Coaching Points:

• For all players with a ball focus on:
• The head snapping thru
• The ball striking the forhead
• The neck being moving forward

For kneeling:

• Focus on the snap of the back thru the ball and the movent of the neck thru the ball.
  
  For standing:

• Focus on the movement of the head and back together for optimal power

Box passing in a 40x40

• All players in the box with two teams, about one ball per four players. (teams are not used yet though)
• One team is passing and moving, the other team is standing still in the grid.
• After every three passes, the players find a non-moving player. That player picks the ball up and a player besides the passer must go and head the ball back to them. Ball goes back to the ground and the player who played the head ball stands still; the player who threw it begins passing with the others.
• Progress to: the player who receives the toss from the thrower must play an accurate head ball to his teammates who begin passing again.
• teams matter as one team will stand still, the other will pass and move
  

Coaching Points:

• Keep both feet on ground.
• Get feet set, move back and head through the ball.
• Get arms up and use to propel weight forward.
  

• Blue passes to each other 3 times
• Next they pass to red.
• Red throws to blue who heads back to red
• Red begins to dribble
  

2 v 2 in a 20x10

• Red vs blue– pairs catch and throw with hands to partner who tries to head over endline for 1 point.
• Restrictions:
  • Can’t cross midline.
  • Can only use body to defend
• Progress to a 2nd header back on a return is allowed and worth two poitns.
  

Coaching Points:

• Keep both feet on ground.
• Get feet set, move back and head through the ball.
• Get arms up and use to propel weight forward.

4v4 + 2N on outside

• Nuetrals can run lines and pick up to throw
• Extra points for a header.
  
• Progress to no neutrals and two points for any volley goal, three points for header goal, etc.
  

Coaching Points

• Look for optimal scoring. Do not force headers.
• Encourage headers when the opportunity is there.
• Other coaching points: same as above