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Heading Please Note: Medical studies have found that extensive heading can cause brain damage. Some parents oppose practicing heading.   As players get older, they use their head more often to pass, receive, shoot or redirect the ball. There are two types of headers. Directional Header. The player wants to control the ball (i.e.,  pass, shoot or receive), which is struck with the forehead, just below or at the hairline, where the player can see the ball. Teach this by having them hold the ball on the forehead, and ask them if they can see it. Clearing Header. The objective is just to send the ball as far as possible and is struck with the forehead at the hairline or with the top of the head. The defender often leaps to get more power. Do not try to teach headers until U-10. Do not stress them until U-11. If you play a lot of small sided, by U-10 or U-11 they will be learning on their own. Do not use a heavy or hard ball to teach headers. Use a soft or underinflated ball. A header that is aimed at the ground near the goal line, so it will bounce, is particularly difficult for the goalie to save.   In the game of football, the ball often takes to the air. As such, heading becomes an important skill to master. Defenders must be able to defend the skies in front of their goal. Attackers need to be able to head the ball on goal from crosses from the wing.   As your players begin to master heading techniques, progress to more difficult drills that incorporate game-like situations and pressure from the opponent. Players will be more likely to head the ball during the game if they can do it in practice.   Athlete Readiness The beginner player is sometimes fearful of the ball and will avoid contact. Players that do try to head the ball, do so without looking at the ball, heading the ball with the top of the head rather than with the forehead. The result is inconsistent power and little accuracy.   The intermediate player shows no fear of attacking the ball with the head and is able to use good technique: keeps the eyes on the ball, plays the ball with the forehead. The player is able to get some power behind the ball by using the upper body and neck. The player will direct the ball in the correct, general direction but without fine accuracy. Most intermediate players will still find it difficult to jump and head a ball successfully.   Teaching Heading       Heading (Dartfish)   Look at the ball as it comes towards the head and keep the eyes open as contact is made. Key Words Eyes Open Watch The Ball   To get more power, rock onto the back foot before the ball arrives to get some leverage when heading. Key Words Rock Back     Make contact with the forehead, not with the top of the head, and attack through the ball for power. Key Words Forehead Power Through         Incorrect heading of the ball   Heading should be a pleasure, not a pain. Heading needs to be learned as well as all other techniques, as many goals will result from headers, and all outfield players will be required to head the ball many times during a game.   Headers not only finish movements with a strike at goal, they also start movements by intercepting a pass and heading to a player on the same team or heading to a teammate to shoot at goal.   It is also important for all players to be able to head the ball out of defense.

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