Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Defensive Heading DM

Heading in Threes (15 mins)

Organization:

Split players into groups of three's, in a triangle, about 4 yards apart.

Aim:

To develop heading technique and accuracy.

Instructions:

Player A throws to Player B, who heads to Player C. Player C throws to Player A who heads to Player B. The sequence continues with each player heading in turn.

Coaching Points:

Server should serve the ball in front of the header, who heads down.

Player heading the ball should strike the ball rather than letting it hit them.

Move feet to position themselves to head the ball;

Feet apart to form a good base;

Eye on the ball;

Neck and body muscles firm;

use arms to increase power.

Progressions:

1. Players move about the area, slowly at first, continuing the sequence of throw-head-catch.

2. Gradually increase the distance between the players until the servers are 6 to 8 yards apart;

3. Introduce a defender - three attackers continue throw, head, catch as they move it among themselves. They can throw the ball to any attacking player. Defender has to intercept three times, and then replaces one of the attackers.

Header Volleyball (20 mins)

Header Volleyball

Organization:

Create two areas - red and blue - with an overlapping shaded area.

Split players into teams of 4 - 2 blue players and 2 white players - and place into red/blue areas as above..

Instructions:

Player A throws the ball up for B to head over the shaded area to C, who catches and throws the ball to D.

Player D then tees up C to head back over back to B.

Progression:

1. Can C head the ball back over (without catching).

2. Header Volleyball - Progress to Header volleyball - ball cannot bounce in the shaded area, but players can head the ball back from anywhere within their blue or red area. Play starts by one team lobbing the ball over the shaded area to the other team. Players can either tee their teammate up, or head the ball straight back. Points are scored by:

-the ball bouces within the shaded area;

-the ball landing outside the area.

First team up to 7 points wins.

Coaching Points:

Eyes on the ball, attacking the ball (using the forehead) to try and gain power and height.

Use arms, neck muscles and good upper-body shape to assist. Arms for balance and to create power.

Keep mouth shut to avoid biting tongue.

Scrimmage. (25 mins)

Organization:

25x40

Free play, FIFA rules.