Youth Soccer Drills: Winning Tactics For Heading The Ball
by S.G.R.BEver wondered the effectiveness of using the head to readdress the ball while it is still in the air? This heading skill in youth soccer drills causes no physical harm to the players when it is executed correctly.
In case your players have not performed this skill of heading before, start teaching them by using a deflated ball. Let some air out of the ball so that it becomes soft and easy to handle. When it comes to kids soccer drills, like always, begin with the basics of heading, some of which I’ll be happy to share with you.
When the ball is still in the air, the players should move along the ball for the reason that their body should directly in front of the ball when they face it. Teach the players to continue watching the ball all the way through and until that time when it strikes their forehead.
Your players must recognize the importance of continuously looking at the ball whether it coming to them to going away from them. It they don’t know which way the ball is going or coming from, they risk getting hurt. Players in youth soccer practice should learn to strike the ball by using the top-front portion of their forehead rather than using their temples or top of the head.
A large number of youth soccer drills call attention to the movement involved in correctly handling the ball. Two of the drills have been explained below for a better understand of yours.
Sitting and Knees: This drill in youth soccer coaching requires 2 players and a ball. One player should sit on the ground with the legs spread out in the front. The other player should stand directly in front of the 1st and throw the ball at a very low level towards him or her. The objective behind this is that because the ball is thrown short, the person will have to come forward to hit it.
This activity should go on with a player positioned with both knees on the ground. Then the player will have to bend forward to strike the ball. This drill has the effect of teaching the players to use their head in directing the ball.
Head out of Hands: To work with this drill, you need to have cones and a ball for each player. This drill requires the players to hold the ball with their hands and the throw it off by heading it. They should learn the art of moving their head to the ball and vice-versa.
The cones can help the players learn heading to a particular location. The players learn the techniques to head the ball in a direction using their head.
So this is it; using these youth soccer drills, your players will get confident in heading the ball and competing without getting hurt. There is no limit to the amount of information and knowledge available in context of the heading skill and you can subscribe to our youth soccer coaching community to let this knowledge help you too.
Andre Botelho is the author of “The Expert Youth Soccer Coaching Guide” and he’s a recognized expert in the subject of youth soccer coaching. Learn how to explode your players’ skills and make coaching sessions fun in less than 29 days! Download your free pdf guide at: Soccer Practice.