So you want to control the ball either to shoot or to pass, then what you must master is the free soccer drills. Various kinds of soccer exercises guarantee proper execution of this skill.
Which part of the ball should be kicked? Both are equally important : 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.
Consider the case of hitting the ball towards the ground, where the thrust on the ball is generated from the forehead. The distance the ball should go after contact determines the amount of force that a player should use on the ball.
In Soccer Practice, the position of the ball with respect the player decides the heading technique. For example, players in the defensive third generally head the ball high and wide , away from the goal.
Contrarily, the midfield players head the ball to the attacking players with more accuracy.
Players must lose the fear of being hit by the ball in the face, before they can head the ball. It is necessary to address this concern by using a sponge type ball, free soccer drills uses it.
A Slightly larger and a lighter ball, like a beach ball , is preferred to reduce the fear. To teach the heading progression, a Soccer coach should position the players on their knees to ensure proper balance of the lower body. Players can then concentrate on the action of the upper body.
When the players are skilled enough in heading the ball in kneel down positions, they can move on to the next level – heading in the standing position. This part of the soccer coaching teaches the players about the contributions of lower body in the heading.
The next thing the players do is tapping the ball with the other player , first in a fixed position then in motion. Let the players to jump and head the ball with the help of a one-foot take off, when they are more confident. Heading drills with a real game-like environment challenge the players.
To add more structure and to develop intentional play, one should refine the heading skills.
Do yourself a favor and incorporate free soccer drills that do not initially use a ball. And this helps young players to gain confidence in their moving skills without having to control the ball. 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.