Don’t you just hate it when undertaking drills for soccer, your players are not able to head the ball properly? The skill of heading the ball is a key skill which allows the players to maneuver and control the ball while it is still up in the air.
Several times in a match the ball will have to be passed in the air to get from one point to another. The capacity of your players to catch hold of the ball by using their head will directly affect their ability to maintain the control of the ball for a greatest number of times.
There are some soccer drills that have the single objective of developing player’s heading skills. Let’s talk about a few of them:
Before starting these drills, divide the players into groups of 2 to 3 players.
Heading volleyball: This is by far the ideal practice to understand the art of heading the ball. It can be easily performed by two players against one another in such drills for soccer. It is exactly same as playing volleyball with the exception of that players throw the ball over to the other side of the net with their heads instead of hands. Yet, they are free to make use of their hands to serve the ball.
Score of the teams is based on the successful attempts made to flip the ball over to the other side of the net. You can use badminton net for this drill.
Juggling: This drill also requires 2 players or even one will do as in the case of pervious drill. In case of a single player, he or she can juggle the ball with their forehead. So hurl the ball aloft and start practicing immediately. As is obvious, this drill among all soccer exercises is comparatively tough and the player gets better at it by practicing.
In case of 2 players, they can throw the ball in the air and use their heads to throw it back to each other. The player who is able to retain the ball on the head is the winner.
Throwing the ball; Make two players stand about 10 feet apart. Toss the ball at them randomly and ask them to head the ball back to you. Make sure that you ask them to jump when they head the ball. This will help them learn the trick efficiently.
It is important that they are instructed to use their forehead and sides of the head. If they do not understand this, they will have headaches and also may get injured.
To get the most out of this soccer practice, the player should get their forehead in line with the approaching ball. Then they rise and jump to hit the ball so that the ball gets a momentum.
Your next step! To take what you have just learned and incorporate into the drills for soccer regimen. You will be surprised at how efficiently they start heading the ball. Our youth soccer coaching community contains many more informative articles, newsletters, videos to help you teach your players even better. Join today and make the most of them.
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Tags: Drills for soccer, soccer drills, soccer exercises, Soccer practice