Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Heading (Attacking ) session plan (Start Time: 2025-01-02 10:10:00)

heading ( technical practice) (20 mins)

Key Factors 

• Body Positioning:

  • Keep your body balanced, with your knees slightly bent. Stay on your toes for better movement.
  • Position your head directly under the ball, keeping your eyes focused on it.

• Head Contact:

  • Use your forehead to make contact with the ball, ensuring a solid strike. Avoid using the top or side of your head.
  • Keep your neck strong and rigid to generate power and accuracy when heading the ball.

• Timing:

  • Jump or position yourself in advance to meet the ball at its highest point.
  • Ensure you time your jump well to meet the ball while it is coming toward you, rather than waiting for it to drop.

• Direction:

  • Aim to direct the ball towards a specific target, whether it’s a teammate or goal. Practice heading the ball for accuracy, not just power.

• Safety:

  • Ensure players are comfortable with heading and understand how to protect their neck and head, avoiding excessive force.

Organization: Olcott (1968)

• players asked to make a group of 2
• each group will be provided with one football
• the zones will be marked by red markers 

Technical Session (20 Minutes)

Objective: Improve heading technique, accuracy, and power.

Warm-Up (5 minutes):

• Light jogging and neck/shoulder stretches.
• Partner passing with soft headers.

Main Drills (10 minutes):

• Basic Heading Technique (5 minutes):
  • Players pair up and practice short-distance headers, focusing on using the forehead, body balance, and timing.
• Heading for Accuracy (5 minutes):
  • Set targets for players to aim at with their headers, progressing to aiming for specific goal areas (e.g., top corner).

Cool Down (5 minutes):

• Light jogging and neck stretches.

• Eyes open 
• Head ball using forehead
• Use neck & back muscles 
• Arms out for balance 
• Stay on toes 
• Head top - middle of ball
• Go for accuracy

Progression and Regression for Heading:

Progression:

• Heading with Power: Encourage players to generate more power in their headers while maintaining accuracy, especially for longer distances.
• Heading Under Pressure: Introduce a defender or opponent to challenge players while heading, making it more game-like.
• Dynamic Heading: Increase the distance and speed of the ball, requiring players to time their headers better and adjust to varying ball heights and angles.

Regression:

• Close-Range Heading: Start with headers from shorter distances to help players focus on technique and confidence.
• Slow Ball Delivery: Reduce the speed of the ball when practicing heading to focus on proper technique and timing.
• Supportive Partnering: Allow players to practice with a partner, providing feedback and assistance in heading technique before progressing to more challenging situations.

Coaching Process (20 Minutes)

Initial Phase (5 Minutes):

• Observation: Watch players perform heading drills, focusing on body positioning and timing.
• Key Focus: Emphasize forehead contact, timing the jump, and maintaining balance.

Mid-Session Feedback (10 Minutes):

• Feedback: Correct head contact and body posture.
• Encouragement: Focus on accuracy, aiming for specific targets.
• Demonstration: Show proper technique and stress safety.

Final Phase (5 Minutes)

Heading SSG (20 mins)

Key points

• Perform mechanics of heading in real game like scenario
• Perform Attacking headers under pressure

Organization

• 20x25 yard area 
• 2 team with 5 players in each
• 1 GK in each team
• 2 Big goal post
• 1 ball on ground

SSG

• 4v4 game focusing Attacking header with 4 players and 1 GK
• Provide maximum cross into box to perform attacking header

Progression and Regression: (McKeag, 2005) 
Progression

Increase the number of crosses

Regression

• Decrease the number of high balls
• Allowing to take maximum touches 

Mechanics of defensive heading

• Eyes open
• Head ball using forehead
• Use neck & back muscles
• Arms out for balance
• Stay on toes
• Head middle - bottom of ball
• Go for height and distance

• 3 min of dynamic movements
• 5 mins of uninterpreted SSG
• 5 minutes of tactical and technical intervention and challenges
• 5mins of SSG
• 2 cool down and feedbacks