heading

Annabel DunnillCoach, England

Hi Lewis,

Improving your heading in football requires a combination of technique, physical attributes, and practice. Here are some tips and drills to help you become a better header of the ball:

1. Work on Your Technique:

a. Body Position: Keep your body upright and your eyes on the ball. Your body should be slightly leaning back when heading to generate power.

b. Timing: Time your jump and header to make contact with the ball at the highest point of your jump.

c. Use Your Forehead: Make contact with the ball using your forehead, specifically the area just above the hairline.

d. Be Aggressive: Attack the ball and make decisive, controlled contact. Don't be passive.

e. Keep Your Mouth Closed: For safety reasons, keep your mouth closed when heading the ball to avoid injury.

2. Vision and Anticipation:

a. Work on reading the flight of the ball and anticipating where it will land.

b. Learn to position yourself in the right areas to be in a good position for headers.

3. Practice Drills:

a. Heading Drills: Practice heading the ball from different angles and heights. Have a teammate or coach serve you balls to head. Start with easy, accurate passes and progress to more challenging deliveries.

b. Crossing and Finishing Drills: Participate in drills that involve crosses and headers in a game-like scenario. This can help you improve your positioning and timing.

c. Heading Under Pressure: Have a defender challenge you in the air during heading drills to simulate match situations.

d. Game Situations: Work on heading during small-sided games or full matches. This can help you learn how to position yourself and read the flight of the ball effectively.