Ever wondered the effectiveness of using the head to readdress the ball while it is still in the air? This does not hurt the player in any way if is it practiced correctly in the youth soccer drills.
You should deflate the ball in case of teaching this skill to your players for the first time. Let some air out of the ball so that it becomes soft and easy to handle. When it comes to kids soccer drills, like always, begin with the basics of heading, some of which I’ll be happy to share with you.
When the ball is in air, teach the players to move along with it so that their body is directly in front of it when they face the ball. They should keep their eyes on the ball all the way in, and continue watching it as it strikes their forehead.
The kids must know the importance of keeping their eyes open and watch the ball coming to and going away from them. They can be seriously hurt of they don’t keep their eyes open. Teach them in youth soccer practice to use the top-front part of their forehead to strike the ball and not with the temples or top of the head.
A large number of youth soccer drills call attention to the movement involved in correctly handling the ball. Two of the drills have been explained below for a better understand of yours.
Sitting and Knees: When it comes to youth soccer coaching, this drill uses 2 players and 1 ball. One player will sit on the ground with their feet straight out in front of him or her. The second player will stand directly in front of the first one and throw the ball really low towards him or her. The strategy behind this is that the person who hits the ball has to come forward to do it because the ball id thrown short.
This activity should go on with a player positioned with both knees on the ground. Here, the player will have to lunge forward to strike the ball. This drill has the effect of teaching the players to use their head in directing the ball.
Head out of Hands: This drill requires cones and one ball for each player. This drill requires the players to hold the ball with their hands and the throw it off by heading it. They should be instructed to move their head to the ball and then the ball to their head.
When the cones are used, the kids learn to head the ball to a particular location. The players learn the techniques to head the ball accurately and using their head.
So there you have it; youth soccer drills to develop the skill of heading amongst the players and enable them to compete in the game without the fear of getting hurt. There is a wealth of information and resources on youth soccer available in our youth soccer coaching community and you too can take advantage of it by registering for it.
Andre Botelho is the author of “The Expert Youth Soccer Coaching Guide” and he’s a recognized expert in the subject of youth soccer coaching. Learn how to explode your players’ skills and make coaching sessions fun in less than 29 days! Download your free pdf guide at: Soccer Practice.