Free soccer drills

Controlling the ball either to shoot or to pass through head is not very difficult to achieve with free Soccer drills. A variety of soccer exercises are involved in the proper execution of this skill.

What part of the ball should be applied force by the player? Which part of the head should be used to apply force and how much force should other parts generate? Answering these questions correctly will help the player to hit the ball where he wanted to.

One classical example is, Players hit the ball with the downward motion of the forehead when they want to hit the ball to the ground. The distance the ball should go after contact determines the amount of force that a player should use on the ball.

The most suitable heading techniques, during soccer practice, are determined by the position of the ball and the position of the player with respect to each other. For example, players in the defensive third generally head the ball high and wide , away from the goal.

Soccer Drills

On the other hand, midfield players head the ball more precisely to the attacking players.

Players must lose the fear of being hit by the ball in the face, before they can head the ball. And that’s why the free soccer drills uses a sponge type ball for teaching heading skills.

Beach balls which are slightly larger and lighter are used to reduce fear. While teaching heading skills, Coaches usually position the players on their knees to ensure proper balance of the lower body. When the players have proper balance of the lower body, they concentrate on the action of the upper body.

When the players are skilled enough in heading the ball in kneel down positions, they can move on to the next level – heading in the standing position. This is the stage in soccer coaching where they will begin to learn about the contributions the lower body makes to heading.

Then comes the tapping of the ball with a other player, first in a fixed position then in motion. Let the players to jump and head the ball with the help of a one-foot take off, when they are more confident. The players can also be challenged with heading drills in a game-like defensive pressurized environment.

Refining the heading skills will add more structure to the game and will develop intentional play.

One should really consider incorporating free soccer drills because it does not use the ball initially. In this way, young players gain confidence in their moving skills without having to control the ball. When the players are comfortable with the movement, challenge them with the ball to increase their skills.

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About the author

Andre Botelho is a recognized expert in youth soccer coaching. He influences well over 35,000 youth coaches each year with his unique coaching philosophy, and makes it really easy to explode your players’ skills and make training more fun in record time. To download your free youth soccer coaching guide visit: How to coach soccer.