Attacking Headers

Details: Parent Category: Soccer Heading Drills 12-15yrs; Category: Heading Drills - Level 2

Session

Session: AO.083

Exercise Objectives

Organisation

Diagram 1. Set-Up Arrangement

Set-Up

20x44 yrd area (roughly penalty area) with 1 full size goals.
Finishers are lined up behind a near and far post starting cone and either one or two players positioned to distribute crosses.
Balls should be placed with the finishers.
2 cones are placed aside the penalty spot to give guides to the two runners.

Instructions

The attackers go in twos and attempt to finish an aerial crossed ball (either thrown in by hand or by feet) on goal.
A1 (Far Post Runner) passes a ball out to the wing player.
a) A1 runs into the cone in front of them before looping back and round (Horse Shoe Run) the other cone before running in at the back post. b) A2 (Near post runner) runs to the cone in front of them and then cuts diagonally at the near post (arriving slightly before the far post runner in the second 6 yrd area).
W1 on receiving the ball take a touch (or two) down the line and delivers in a cross (the type of cross is requested by the coach).
Player D1 waits and helps return balls to the attacking lines until the progressions.

Scoring

Coaching Points

Get in line with the flight of the ball.
On your toes to do this (shuffle steps).
Keep your eyes on the ball until impact.
Keep the neck stiff, and use the waist/back to move the head toward the ball.
Eyes OPEN!, Mouth CLOSED!
Contact should be made with the center of the forehead.
Attacking headers should be directed down towards the goal keepers feet.
If you hit the ball on its bottom half, the ball will go up. If you hit the ball on the upper half, the ball will go down.
To generate power and distance arch the back.
Extend your neck. The power of a header does not come from your neck muscles. Bend back your entire upper body and then lunge forward to strike the ball.
Keep your shoulders leveled and perpendicular to your aim.
Arms out for balance and protection from other players in heading aerial challenges.
Aim to be physical and get in front of the defender.
Time attacking runs, don't arrive to early and be waiting on the ball where you would loose momentum.
Follow up rebounds.
Near post players should spin out to receive knock downs when the ball is played to the far post runner.

Progressions