How To Head a Soccer Ball Under Age 12

Learn how to head a soccer ball if you are under age 12 with OSA Coach DJ Diveny.
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Key Points:

1 - Shoulder It

2 - Chest It

3 - Back Up

4 - Have No Fear

5 - Win Your Position

6 - Keep Your Position

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Exercise to Practice:

For an exercise to practice on your own you will need a ball and a partner.

First start off practicing the shoulder and chest technique without the ball. Get your body use to how this will feel. Once comfortable have your partner toss you the ball at different speeds and heights. You either chest or shoulder the ball back. Do a few of each and then switch.

Now have your partner toss the ball to the side of you and you have to track the moving ball. This focuses on winning the position. It can be out of the air or off the bounce.

Next, focus on keeping your position. If you have a third partner get them involved as a defender. If not, just imagine you have a defender. Your partner tosses the ball to your side and you have to win your position and then keep your position by shielding the ball. When you shoulder or chest it forward dribble a bit and then start over.
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What’s Wrong:

If you keep heading the ball instead of shouldering or chesting it you are not stepping back. If that ball is coming at your head, step back a step or two so it’s now coming at your shoulder.

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Bonus Tip!

If you are a player under 12 don’t worry too much about not learning how to head the ball until you are 12. Headers aren’t a massive principle of the game. Messi has 406 goals with his left foot, but has only scored 24 headers! Yes, some players, like centerbacks, will need to learn defensive and attacking heading as it will become a serious part of their position, but if you are a hard working player you will learn heading in no time when the time is right.