17 TO ADULTS - WEEK SEVEN

Drill 1 - Throw, Head, Catch

Warm Up:
Refer to the “Warm Up” section for a variety of fun warm up activities for your team. Use a combination of exercises “with” and “without” the ball. Relate the warm up to the skill of the day. Be creative, energetic, and make the warm-up a fun start to the practice session.

Exercise Objectives:
This practice will improve attacking and defensive "heading" techniques. This can also be used as a fun warm up activity with your team.

Field Preparation
Entire Group with Goalkeeper
Area 20 x 30 yards
Full Size Goals and Goalkeepers
Cones or Flag poles
Supply of Balls
Colored Bibs

Coaching Pointers:
Divide the team into two groups. Identify groups by using colored bibs. The object of the game is for a team to score with a “header”. The team in possession can only advance up the field in using this sequence “Throw, Head and then Catch”.

Players cannot run with the ball. Opposing team can only intercept a throw with a header and a header with a catch.

Focus On:
Good support movement off the ball.
Quality heading techniques. Heading to pass, heading to score.

Progression:
Head ball from hands and catch.
Volley ball from hands and catch.

Must score with a volley.
Diving headers worth 3 goals.
Double headers worth 5 goals.

Drill 2 - Attacking Heading 2 v 2

Exercise Objectives:
This practice is structured to improve the technical ability of "Heading" with an emphasis on "accuracy and power".

Field Preparation
4 players
Area 10 x 10 yards
Cones or Flag poles
Supply of Balls

Coaching Pointers:
Four players are positioned in a grid 8 yards x 7 yards, using one ball. The players are divided into teams of two. Both sets of players defend a goal marked by the cones. The players act as goalkeepers and may use their hands to stop a header. Goals are scored with a header between the cones and under head-height of the players.

The practice starts with one server throwing a straight throw from the nearest sideline for their partner to head at goal. The player heading the ball must head from the goal-line. The two goalkeepers must try to stop the header. When they catch the ball they also must serve from the nearest sideline and head at goal. The players must always keep the correct sequence; no player may have two headers in succession.

If a team defending can head the ball back at goal without first catching the ball they can score 2 goals for a double header, 3 goals for a triple header and so on. After the server throws the ball to his partner he must quickly return to his goal line to defend the goal. A supply of balls should be placed alongside the grid to maintain a high tempo. Encourage the players to attempt "Diving Headers" at goal when the opportunity presents itself.

Drill 3 - Heading in Midfield

Exercise Objectives:
This practice is designed to improve defensive and offensive heading techniques in the midfield third.

Field Preparation
Large group of players
Half Field
Cones or Flag poles
Supply of Balls
Colored Bibs

Coaching Pointers:
Two groups of four players are positioned in the middle third of the field. Mark the middle third with cones. One group acts as defenders, the second as attackers. Two servers are placed in the six-yard box. The servers alternate playing long lofted passes into the middle third of the field.

The object of the practice is for both groups to challenge and win the header. The defensive team must head the ball back towards the servers and past the cones to win a point. The offensive team must try to “flick” the ball over the defenders and past the end cones to win a point. Change roles of groups so each group practices defensive
and offensive heading.

The coach should emphasize the following coaching points:

Ensure that the server delivers quality high lofted passes into the middle third.
Attack the ball; don’t wait for the ball to come to you.
Get under the flight of the ball as early as possible for good balance.
Remember to keep the head steady and eyes fixed firmly on the ball.

Defensively:
Immediately on impact, the player should swing the upper body forward quickly and make contact on the ball with the center of the forehead.
The player should redirect the ball with height and distance.
Do not tilt the head too far back or the ball will skim from the head.

Offensively:
Time your jumps carefully.
On the approach to the ball, the player must slightly arch the back and tighten the neck muscles.
Contact is made with the top part of the forehead and below the horizontal mid-line of the ball.

The ball should be redirected with just a small part of the ball glancing off the forehead. Immediately on making contact with the ball, the player should quickly swing the upper body and make contact on the ball with the center of the forehead.

Drill 4 - World Cup Heading Game

Exercise Objectives:
This practice is designed to improve the player’s technical ability in "Heading".

Field Preparation
Large group of players
Penalty Area
Full Size Goal and Goalkeeper
Cones or Flag poles
Supply of Balls

Coaching Pointers:
Players are divided equally into two groups. One group is positioned behind the goal to recover missed headers. The second group are split equally and positioned at two cones placed at the edge of the penalty area. Two servers, positioned each side of the goal, serve the ball in the air and between the two cones placed approximately 12 yards from the goal line. Each server alternates serving. Players recovering the balls must always ensure there is a ready supply of ball for the servers.

Players heading must receive a throw from the server diagonally opposite. The ball must be struck after it passes through the cones. Any ball struck before passing through the cones does not count. The group works as a team to see how many goals they can score in a three-minute period. After the three-minute period, all goals are totaled and groups alternate.

The emphasis should be placed on accuracy and power. Players should time their runs so that they do not have to break stride when heading the ball.

Small-Sided Game (with goalkeepers)

Exercise Objectives:
Finish with small sided game 6 v 6, 7 v 7 (with Goalkeepers). The practice should be concluded with a small-sided game reinforcing the coaching points from your drills.

Field Preparation
Entire Group (split into two equal teams)
Area 40 x 60 yards
Use Small Goals, Cones or Flag poles
Supply of Balls
Colored Bibs

Coaching Pointers:

Divide the players into two equal teams with goalkeepers.
Each field should be approximately 40 yards x 60 yards.
Use corner flags or cones as goals.
Total time, 20-30 minutes.
At the end of your session, review all coaching points made during the practice.

Record Score:

Team 1_________________ v Team 2 _________________

At the end of your session, review all coaching points made during the practice.

Schedule

Week One
Week Two
Week Three
Week Four
Week Five
Week Six
Week Seven
Week Eight
Week Nine
Week Ten
Week Eleven
Week Twelve

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