Heading on the attack
Teams that control the air control the game. To control the air the players
must be willing to use their heads and be able to use them effectively. This
means effective training. Training should begin with the proper technique
to head a ball back in the same direction it came from. Progress to heading
the ball to the left and right. Conclude with training on how to flick
a ball with head such that it continues moving in the same direction with your
head
simply being a surface to redirect and play further.
Passing with the head
To properly teach heading the ball, first focus on having the feet set in
the proper position. When the feet are set properly the stance is similar to
a boxers stance. Tthe center of gravity is low, the knees are
bent, and the arms are up as if to take a jab. As the ball arrives teach the
players
to lean back and to keep the head locked with a stationary head; only the
back pivoting backward. As the ball arrives the back should “whip
thru” with
the head moving forward at the same time striking the ball just above the eyes
on the firm part of the forehead. As the body whips forwards and the head moves
so also should the arms move from a forward position to a backward position.
The arm motion is from forward to backwards similar to to
prying bars apart in a jail cell.
Once the players can effectively head a ball forward progress to heading a ball to the side, which has a very similar motion to the heading forward except that instead of whipping forward the body whips to the side and the head turns on contact forcing the ball to the side.
Another aspect of heading is flicking the ball. Flicking the ball is tricky
but is actually pretty easy. As the ball arrives the player
needs to bend the knees position
themselves
below
the
incoming
ball
and as
it arrives lean up and back continuing the motion of the ball.
Heading in the air
Once technique is sound on the ground, the next step is heading in the air. The technique remains the same except for one obvious change; it all takes place in the air.
Finishing with the head with power and precision
Finish with a header is one of the most exciting finishes in soccer. Scoring
a goal using the head needs two things: solid fundamental technique in heading
and the courage to mix it up with the defenders.. Additionally
to put the ball in the back of the net the header must be precise to place
the ball around the
keeper and powerful sot the keeper cannot easily glide and make a save.
Once your team is successful with heading the ball, progressing to heading
as a finish is simply working on that technique in front of the goal.
Heading on the defense
Heading on defense, though similar has far different expectations than heading
when on the attack. Using the head when on defense is mainly for clearing a
ball high and wide so when training teams to clear defensively they should
be trained o get the ball up and away while at the same time playing
the ball to
the
outside
of the field where there is less danger of a quick shot on frame. When heading
on defense the body should be positioned similarly to the body when attacking
with one major difference; when the ball is arriving instead of moving the
body forward, it should be moving upwards as to drive the ball up into the
air instead of downward towards the feet. The technique for training heading
on defense is:
1. Position their feet properly for good balance
2. Lean back and “whip thru” with their back
3. Move the head thru the ball
4. As the head goes forward the hands move backward for power
5. Strike the ball with the forehead
6. Follow thru driving the ball with power
When heading on defense the primary difference is instead of driving the ball
forward drive the ball upward and outward.
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