Heading drills (following the heading guidance)
Heading is a low priority in youth football. When you do practise it with older age groups, keep sessions short, use light balls and stay within the guidance limits.
FA and Scottish FA guidance: no heading practice in training for U11 and below. U12 at most one heading session a month and U13 one a week, with a maximum of 5 headers each; U14 to U16 one session a week, maximum 10 headers. Use light balls and unopposed practices.
Heading technique in pairs (light ball)
A partner tosses a light ball underarm and the player heads it back into their hands. The safest way to learn correct technique. Follow heading guidance: no heading practice for U11 and below; U12 to U13 max 5 headers per player per session, U14 to U16 max 10.
U12 to adult · Pairs players · 5 mins
See the drill →Defensive clearing header
Defenders head a served ball high, far and wide to a target zone. Teaches the clearing header that gets the ball out of danger. Follow heading guidance: no heading practice for U11 and below; U12 to U13 max 5 headers per player per session, U14 to U16 max 10.
U14 to adult · Groups of 3 players · 5 to 8 mins
See the drill →Attacking header from a served cross
A coach serves a cross by hand and attackers head at goal, aiming down. Practises timing a run and the downward header keepers hate. Follow heading guidance: no heading practice for U11 and below; U12 to U13 max 5 headers per player per session, U14 to U16 max 10.
U14 to adult · 4 to 10 plus a keeper players · 8 to 10 mins
See the drill →Flick-on header to a runner
A target player glances a served ball on into the path of a runner. Teaches the flick-on used from goal kicks and long balls. Follow heading guidance: no heading practice for U11 and below; U12 to U13 max 5 headers per player per session, U14 to U16 max 10.
U14 to adult · Groups of 3 players · 5 to 8 mins
See the drill →Heading accuracy to target zones
A server tosses a light ball and the player heads it to the target zone the coach calls. Accuracy over power. Follow heading guidance: no heading practice for U11 and below; U12 to U13 max 5 headers per player per session, U14 to U16 max 10.
U14 to adult · Groups of 3 players · 5 to 8 mins
See the drill →Jumping header technique
Players learn to take off from one foot and meet a tossed light ball at the top of their jump. Safe, unopposed technique for older players. Follow heading guidance: no heading practice for U11 and below; U12 to U13 max 5 headers per player per session, U14 to U16 max 10.
U14 to adult · Groups of 3 players · 5 to 8 mins
See the drill →Throw-head-catch game
A handball-style game where the ball moves by throw, then head, then catch, and goals are scored with a header. Fun practice of timing and placement with a light ball. Follow heading guidance: no heading practice for U11 and below; U12 to U13 max 5 headers per player per session, U14 to U16 max 10.
U14 to adult · 8 to 12 players · 8 to 10 mins
See the drill →Timing your header: attack the ball
From a few metres back, players move forward to meet a lobbed light ball rather than waiting for it. Teaches timing and attacking the ball, unopposed. Follow heading guidance: no heading practice for U11 and below; U12 to U13 max 5 headers per player per session, U14 to U16 max 10.
U14 to adult · Groups of 3 players · 5 to 8 mins
See the drill →Building a session?
Tell the free session planner your age group, numbers and what to work on, and it builds a full session from drills like these.
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