How to Coach Defensive Heading in Soccer

A lot of soccer, especially in the United States, is played in a very direct style. This usually involves a lot of crosses and long balls to the center of defense that need to be dealt with by the defenders. The act of defensive heading can sometimes be the difference between keeping a clean sheet and conceding a shot or goal.

Things You'll Need

  • Cones
  • Pinnies
  • Balls
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Instructions

    • 1

      Have players in pairs with one player in each pair being a server. Defensive headers should be high, wide and long, so have the pairs distanced approximately 20 yards apart. Have the servers serve to the defenders, who will attempt to head the ball back as high and as long as they can.

    • 2

      Ensure that the correct technique is being used. Correct heading technique involves contacting the ball at the bottom half, using the center of the forehead, eyes open and mouth closed. Power is generated by arching the hips back before contact and powering through the ball.

    • 3

      Play a game of head tennis on a tennis court or tennis-court-like grid. This will give ample repetitions of the technique to the players. Have every restart or serve as a header. Score points for heading the ball right behind the other teams end line. Concentrate on proper technique and body shape for power generation.

    • 4

      Play a small sided game on a field that is wider than it is long. Place a condition on the game that goals can only be scored from crosses. This will get lots of repetitions of balls coming in across the box for the defensive players to react to. Ideally, the grid or field being used will be 40 yards long at most. If there are problems getting crosses, then place channels on the wings with neutral players making free crosses.

    • 5

      Play a game on a long field. Eliminate corners and goal kicks. Instead, endline or goal restarts can be done by having the keeper punt the ball to the other team's defenders, and allowing the defender a free header before play becomes live. It is important to follow up on correct heading technique, as well as the idea of getting the ball high, wide and long. The pitch should ideally be no more than 70 yards in length.