Heading for Distance
| For a defender, the penalty area is the area, above all others, where there are no prizes for coming second. It is essential therefore; those defenders are first to the ball and attack the ball. When heading, defenders will usually have the advantage of the ball coming towards them. Determination and courage are important qualities to posses when heading for distance. Having reached the ball first, the defender must head the ball high, long and wide to give his defense time to reorganize and adjust. |
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| Practice |
| To determine your average heading distance stands against the wall and heads the ball outwards towards the two cones. Where ever the ball bounces acts as your base line. For this practice. Move the cones to this spot and work from that line. From the cones, throw the ball slightly forward and up into the air. On it's descent head the ball high and long towards the wall. The higher the ball hits the wall the more powerful your heading will become. Be alert to all rebounds and control them efficiently. Jog back to the base line and repeat practice. An aggressive frame of mind is vital. |
| What You Need to Know |
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The player’s eyes should be fixed on the flight of the ball.
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Contact is made with the center of the forehead. As the forehead is the hardest and flattest part of the
skull, it will lend to a more powerful and accurate header.
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Contact on the ball should be made through the center and below the horizontal mid-line of the ball.
This will direct the ball upwards.
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The header must be aggressive.
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On the approach to the ball, the player must slightly arch the back and tighten the neck muscles.
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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. Further power can be achieved by pulling the arms
back when making contact with the ball.
- When heading for distance, the ball should be headed high, long and wide.
