There are some “don’ts” in heading the ball that you should teach your players.
1. Don’t head the ball out of bounds unless you mean to do it!
2. Don’t head the ball over the cross bar!
3. Don’t head the ball into the hands of the goalkeeper.
That should make sense to just about everyone. But sometimes it is easier said than done.
Actually, it is always about the mechanics of your body. Don’t twist yourself into knots to properly head the ball.
Addressing #1: We’ve all seen young players near the sidelines head the ball out of touch when they really meant to keep it in play and head it down the field[show_disconnected][show_to accesslevel=’Subscriber’]. It’s all about the feet!
Teach your wide players to head the ball by stepping forward with the leg closest to the sideline. Check it out for yourself. When you stand near a wall on your left shoulder and step with your left foot, watch what happens to your body. You turn so your head and shoulders are turned away from the wall.
Same when your right shoulder is up near the wall. Step with your right foot forward and your head and body turn inward away from the wall.
Simple stuff, but it takes practice to become automatic.
Addressing #2: Teach your players to understand that the position of their chins when heading a ball determines whether or not the header will go up or go down.
Tuck the chin down towards the chest and the header will go down as you strike the ball with the forehead. Lift the chin and the ball goes up. Hit the ball hard while lifting the chin and it will go up and go a long way.
And when is it proper technique to hit a header up and long? Yes, you are correct….when you are clearing a flighted ball out of your defensive portion of the field!
Addressing #3: Don’t head the ball to the goalkeeper! That rule is the identical twin of “don’t shoot the ball right to the goalkeeper.” Either way it is a missed shot, and a missed opportunity to score a goal and perhaps read your name in the sports pages of your local newspaper.
Actually, head the ball down. One of the most difficult headers for a goalkeeper to save is one that bounces wide of his/her position on or just behind the goal line.
And remember that the power generated into a header comes not just from the neck and shoulders. Turn your body into the wall and power through using your legs and your entire trunk from the waist up.
Contact just above the eyebrows, and you initiate the contact. Don’t just let the ball smack you in the head!
1. Don’t head the ball out of bounds unless you mean to do it!
2. Don’t head the ball over the cross bar!
3. Don’t head the ball into the hands of the goalkeeper.
That should make sense to just about everyone. But sometimes it is easier said than done.
Actually, it is always about the mechanics of your body. Don’t twist yourself into knots to properly head the ball.
Addressing #1: We’ve all seen young players near the sidelines head the ball out of touch when they really meant to keep it in play and head it down the field[show_disconnected][show_to accesslevel=’Subscriber’]. It’s all about the feet!
Teach your wide players to head the ball by stepping forward with the leg closest to the sideline. Check it out for yourself. When you stand near a wall on your left shoulder and step with your left foot, watch what happens to your body. You turn so your head and shoulders are turned away from the wall.
Same when your right shoulder is up near the wall. Step with your right foot forward and your head and body turn inward away from the wall.
Simple stuff, but it takes practice to become automatic.
Addressing #2: Teach your players to understand that the position of their chins when heading a ball determines whether or not the header will go up or go down.
Tuck the chin down towards the chest and the header will go down as you strike the ball with the forehead. Lift the chin and the ball goes up. Hit the ball hard while lifting the chin and it will go up and go a long way.
And when is it proper technique to hit a header up and long? Yes, you are correct….when you are clearing a flighted ball out of your defensive portion of the field!
Addressing #3: Don’t head the ball to the goalkeeper! That rule is the identical twin of “don’t shoot the ball right to the goalkeeper.” Either way it is a missed shot, and a missed opportunity to score a goal and perhaps read your name in the sports pages of your local newspaper.
Actually, head the ball down. One of the most difficult headers for a goalkeeper to save is one that bounces wide of his/her position on or just behind the goal line.
And remember that the power generated into a header comes not just from the neck and shoulders. Turn your body into the wall and power through using your legs and your entire trunk from the waist up.
Contact just above the eyebrows, and you initiate the contact. Don’t just let the ball smack you in the head!
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