Here’s a really simple way to control the ball to pass or shoot and it is the heading skill that can be mastered through free soccer drills. Different kinds of soccer exercises helps in the proper execution of this skill.
The player should apply the force to what part of the ball? Two important questions are which part of the head applies force and What force do other parts produce? Answering these questions correctly will help the player to hit the ball where he wanted to.
For instance, to hit the ball to the ground, players will strike the ball with the downward motion of the forehead. How far one wants to hit the ball decides the force at which the ball is stroked.
Soccer practice helps the player to decide the heading technique based on the position of the ball with respect to him. Take the case of the defense players, they generally head the ball high and wide , away from the goal.
And the same differs for the midfield players for they head the ball accurately to the attacking players.
To head the ball, the players should overcome the fear of being hit by the ball in the face. And that’s why the free soccer drills uses a sponge type ball for teaching heading skills.
To reduce fear, some cases mandate to use a slightly larger and lighter ball like a beach ball. To teach the heading progression, a Soccer coach should position the players on their knees to ensure proper balance of the lower body. That allows the players to concentrate on the action of the upper body.
When the players are comfortable striking the ball with their heads, they can move to a standing position. This part of the soccer coaching teaches the players about the contributions of lower body in the heading.
For the next step in the progression, partners toss the ball to each other while remaining stationery and then while in motion. Players are challenged to jump and head the ball with the help of a one-foot take off, When they are more confident. The players can also be challenged with heading drills in a game-like defensive pressurized environment.
Refining the heading skills will add more structure to the game and will develop intentional play.
Do you know why one should incorporate free soccer drills because it doesn’t use the ball initially? Without the ball, the players gain confidence in their moving skills. When the players are comfortable with the movement, challenge them with the ball to increase their skills.
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About the author
Andre Botelho is a recognized expert in youth soccer coaching. He influences well over 35,000 youth coaches each year with his unique coaching philosophy, and makes it really easy to explode your players’ skills and make training more fun in record time. To download your free youth soccer coaching guide visit: How to coach soccer.