SESSION 4: HEADING

HEADING CAN BE A CHALLENGING AREA TO COACH YOUNG CHILDREN. HOWEVER, IT IS AN IMPORTANT SKILL THAT NEEDS TO BE DEVELOPED BEFORE THEY PROGRESS IN FOOTBALL SO IT IS IMPORTANT THAT IT IS COVERED.

8:45 A.M: PLAYERS ARRIVE

9:00 A.M: WARM UP

LIGHT RUN ACROSS WIDTH OF PITCH SEVERAL TIMES

• HEEL FLICKS
• KNEE RAISES
• SIDESTEPS
• JUMPS AND SQUATS
  

STRETCHES

• ALL MAJOR MUSCLES
• EDUCATING THE PLAYERS WHILE STRETCHING
• PREPARE BODY FOR ACTIVITY
• LOOSEN JOINTS
• PUMP BLOOD AROUND BODY FASTER
• PUMP BLOOD TO APPROPRIATE MUSCLES
• PROVIDE FOCUS FOR THE MIND
  

WARM UP GAME: THROW, HEAD, CATCH

• TWO TEAMS PLAY UNOPPOSED
• POINT FOR COMPLETION OF SEQUENCE
• PROPER THROW-IN STYLE THROWS
  

THROW, HEAD, CATCH INTRODUCES COORDINATION SKILLS AS WELL AS BASIC HEADING AND CONTROL, AS WELL AS INTRODUCING THE PLAYERS TO THE PROPER THROW IN.

9:15 A.M: HEADING DRILLS

BASIC HEADING DRILL

• IN PAIRS IN A LINE
• ONE THROWS, ONE HEADS
• PROGRESSION - PLAYERS MUST JUMP TO MEET THE BALL
  

ADVANCED HEADING DRILL

• ATTACKING HEADERS
• MUST HEAD THE BALL DOWNWARDS
• PROGRESSION - BEAT THE KEEPER
  

HEADING FOR SUCCESS

• TWO TEAMS - THROW, HEAD, CATCH
• FLOATERS ON SIDE OF PLAYING AREA
• TO SCORE MUST THROW, HEAD, CATCH INTO A GOALKEEPING AREA
  

HEADING FOR SUCCESS ENCOURAGES HEADING AND ALLOWS PLAYERS TO MAKE DECISIONS AND PROVIDE SUPPORT. IT IS ALSO COMPETITIVE AND ENCOURAGES LEGAL THROW-INS.

HEAD FOR GOAL

• TWO GOALS
• THROW, HEAD, CATCH IN GROUPS OF THREE OR FOUR
• HEAD INTO EMPTY GOAL WITH CONES FOR TARGETS
• PROGRESSION - ADD GOALKEEPER
  

HEAD FOR GOAL ENCOURAGES HEADING AND MOVEMENT, AS WELL AS CORRECT THROW-INS.

9:45 A.M: DRINKS BREAK

9:50 A.M: SHOOTING GAMES

NUMBERS

• EACH PLAYER IS GIVEN A NUMBER
• SPRINT TO BALL AND SHOOT. ENCOURAGE EARLY SHOOTING
• PROGRESSION - TWO PLAYERS IN THE MIDDLE
  

THIS GAME REQUIRES PLAYERS TO REMAIN ALERT THROUGHOUT. IT IS COMPETITIVE AND ENCOURAGES SHOOTING AT PACE.

2 V 2

• ONE GOAL
• ONE CHANCE - WHEN BALL IS DEAD NEW GROUP GETS A TURN
• PROGRESSION - THREE PASSES BEFORE ALLOWED TO SHOOT
  

10:15 A.M: DRINKS BREAK

10:20 A.M: MATCH

• ENCOURAGE HEADING
• HEADERS COUNT DOUBLE
• FINISH WITH ALL-IN FOOTBALL
  

10:45 A.M: COOL DOWN

LIGHT RUN ACROSS WIDTH OF PITCH SEVERAL TIMES

• LUNGES
• OPEN GATES
• CLOSED GATES

STRETCHING

• EDUCATE PLAYERS ON IMPORTANCE OF COOL DOWN
• PREVENT CRAMP AND MUSCLE SORENESS

SUMMARISE TODAY'S SESSION

• WHAT WE'VE LEARNT
• RECAP ON TECHNIQUES
  

10:55 A.M: SESSION ENDS

• TALK WITH PARENTS ABOUT ISSUES
• TALK WITH CERTAIN PLAYERS ABOUT ANY ISSUES
• PACK UP