Youth Soccer Drills:Uncover Heading Secrets
Legacy signals
Legacy popularity: 974 legacy views
Legacy rating: 3/5 from 1 archived votes
Reader rating
Not enough ratings yet
Aggregate average appears after enough eligible reader ratings.
Rate this resource
Sign in to rate this resource.
Forwarding the ball by using the head while the ball is still in the air is an effective method and most of us have never thought about it. In youth soccer drills, this exercise in no way hurts the player provided it is learnt properly.
In case your players have not performed this skill of heading before, start teaching them by using a deflated ball. Let some air out of the ball so that it becomes soft and easy to handle. In kids soccer drills, I’ll be happy to tell you the fundamental rules of heading before getting down to the major points.
When the ball is still in the air, the players should move along the ball for the reason that their body should directly in front of the ball when they face it. Players should learn to maintain a clear view of the ball all the way in until it thumps their forehead.
Make the players aware of the fact that it is of utmost importance for them to keep their eyes open and on the ball when it comes to or goes away from them. They can be seriously hurt of they don’t keep their eyes open. Players in youth soccer practice should learn to strike the ball by using the top-front portion of their forehead rather than using their temples or top of the head.
Most of the youth soccer drills highlight the movement required to head the ball properly. Following are the two drills that have been explained for you:
Sitting and Knees: When it comes to youth soccer coaching, this drill uses 2 players and 1 ball. One player should ssit on the ground and have their legs stretched out in the front. The second player should stand in front of the 1st one and throw the ball at a very low level 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 be repeated with a player positioned with both knees on the ground. Now, the player will have to move forward to actually shoot the ball. This drill has the effect of teaching the players to use their head in directing the ball.
This drill requires the players to hold the ball with their hands and the throw it off by heading it. %SPIN21% They should be instructed to move their head to the ball and then the ball to their head.
Using the cones has the advantage of teaching the players to head the ball to a specific location. The players learn proper handling techniques and accuracy for using the head to redirect the ball.
So this is it; using these youth soccer drills, your players will get confident in heading the ball and competing without getting hurt. Our youth soccer coaching community has tons of valuable information on youth soccer and you can take advantage of it by enrolling for it.
Article author
About the Author
Andre Botelho is the author of "The Expert Youth Soccer Coaching Guide" and he's an expert in the subject of Youth soccer drills. Tp explode your players' skills and make coaching fun in less than 29 days, download your free Youth Soccer Drills guide at: Youth soccer drills.
Further reading
Further Reading
Article
How Sports Teach Discipline, Planning, and Smart Use of Data
Sports play a powerful role in personal growth. Beyond physical fitness, they develop discipline, consistency, and the ability to make thoughtful decisions under pressure. Athletesâprofessional or amateurârely heavily on structured planning and data awareness to improve performance and stay focused on long-term goals. This article explains how sports encourage responsible planning , data-driven thinking , and self-control , all of which are essential life skills. Discipli
January 15, 2026
Article
The Future of Sports: Smarter, Faster, and Data-Driven
Sports have entered a new era. It is no longer just about physical strength or raw talent â it is about strategy, analytics, and precision. Teams and athletes that use data intelligently are redefining what it means to win. Smarter Strategies in Modern Football Football clubs today operate like data-driven ecosystems. Every pass, sprint, and recovery is tracked, analyzed, and optimized. Coaches use predictive tools to plan substitutions, manage workloads, and design flexibl
October 31, 2025
Article
The Power of Sports in Building Discipline and Self-Growth
rnSports are more than just competitionâtheyâre a reflection of life itself. Whether youâre chasing a ball, crossing a finish line, or setting a personal record, sports teach us lessons that go far beyond the field. Every athlete knows that success doesnât come overnight; itâs built through persistence, patience, and purpose. How Sports Shape Our Mindset When you train for any sport, your body becomes strongerâbut your mind becomes unshakable. You learn to embrace
October 18, 2025
Article
Pushing Limits in Sports Physiology: Quentin Geczy Explains the Science of Performance
Image source: Unsplash Understanding how the body responds and adapts to physical activity is crucial for optimizing athletic performance. Sports physiology provides a foundation for this knowledge, helping athletes and coaches make informed decisions about training and recovery. As the body undergoes stress from exercise, it experiences immediate and long-term changes, from increased heart rate to improved muscular strength and endurance. According to Quentin Geczy , monitor
July 31, 2025