Stretching:
· Have the players’ warm-up and stretch using the PEP program – see our team website.
· This should last at least 15 – 20 minutes
· Go over the proper technique of Heading
Key Point to Head the Ball:
· Head and neck steady
· Eyes focused on the ball / watch the ball / follow through
· Get body behind the ball as much as possible
· Knees bent slightly / feet apart / majority of your weight being on your back foot
· Body leaning slightly back – from the hips
· Push through the ball with your head – do not use top of the head
· Use top half of the ball to head the ball down
· Use bottom half of the ball to head the ball up
· When jumping, knee and ankle of the takeoff leg should push upward.
· Arch backward after the jump
· At maximum height of the contact of the ball, snap forward
· Head and neck should be tense as forehead meets the ball.
Exercise 1: (10 minutes)
· Divide the groups into 2
· 1 group is inside the circle, the other group is on the perimeter.
· Inside team start juggling the ball only using their heads.
· Once the ball hits the ground, they change places with the perimeter team
· Each team keeps track the number of juggles
Exercise 2: (10 minutes)
· Players are in pairs, 5 yards apart.
· Player with the ball serve to his partner, who heads the ball back
· Instead of throwing the ball back, player pulls the ball to his / her head and heads it back as hard as possible to his partner.
o Coaching key points:
§ Remind the players about proper technique to head the ball
§ Leaning back slightly – from the hips
§ Keep head and neck steady
§ Eye open and follow through
Exercise 3: (10 minutes)
o Using the width of the field
o Server backs up after each time he/she serves the ball as partner heads the ball back and follows.
o At the end, now alternate – header backing up and server follow
o Switch roles
o Do the same, but this time have the partner jump and head it back as the server goes backwards.
o Alternate the server and header each time
Exercise 4 – Heading on Goal: (10 minutes)
o Organize 2 groups of players outside the penalty box
o Server at each goal post with soccer balls
o Server serves the ball to incoming players who try to head for goal past the goalkeeper
o You can start without the goalkeeper if needed
o Ball must be headed while outside the 6 yard box
o Have incoming players jump for headers
o Coaching Points:
- Head with power / straight
- Eyes open
- Attack the ball
- Time your runs - arrive when the ball arrives
- Give proper technical points to each individuals
Exercise 5 – Heading on Goal: (10 min.)
·Same organization as previous exercise except the server is now in wide position.
· Wide server will serve the ball to far runners
· Ball must be headed before the six yard box
Exercise 6 – Heading Game: (30 min.)
- Grid of 15 x 15 yard area.
- Play 2 v 2
- One pair starts juggling back and forth as they advance towards their opponent’s goal.
- When they get closer, try to score only using their head
- Defending players may use their hands to make saves
- If attacking players lets the ball drop, they lose possession of the ball and they must retreat to their goal line.
- Other team now attack at the point of loses of possession.
- You can have time limit game, up to certain goals, or ladder time of competition so that everyone have chance to play others – keep it competitive.
