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Heading practice for U11s - lighter balls?

U11's. I want to practice heading but not with a normal match ball. Is there a light weight alternative I could use. Don't really want to use flyaways I am hoping they is something similar with a bit more weight. CheersRob
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Football CoachCoach

2 answers

ANSWERS

Scott Coach, Ireland

Personally i dont really see an advantage of using lighter footballs - It wont breed confidence as the children at 10yrs of age understand the difference between the match balls they play with and the training ball you want to use. So if they are scared of heading a match ball using a lighter ball is not going to change there view you need to get them to have confidence in heading the actual ball they will be using in a game teach them the correct technique will not hurt them etc etc.

For me use the correct weighted ball and size for age but as the coach('s) you be the server of the ball to children thus making sure there is not to much height and distance to start with in the delivery of the balls in the session. At under 11's they should already have some concept of heading a ball in matches and games so its more a case of working on were to head the ball and how and correcting any problems you may see from each player and breeding confidence in there ability to head the correct ball.

Football CoachCoach

Sorry for the late reply. Yeah I agree with you. I have decided to do sessions with a size 4 but minimise the number of times they head it. Thanks for the reply.
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