Types of Heading in Soccer

Heading is vital for dominating the game in air. Having good heading ability will help you dominate in the front of both six yard boxes. You will also be able to score more often at the corner kicks. In Soccer, heading techniques are very important for air game. The team that dominates in the air can win the ball in the danger zone in front of the six yard box both when defending and attacking, and that team can win the ball from goal kicks and long driven balls across the field. Individual heading skills can empower a team to use the long ball tactic to pin down the opposition with long passes towards their penalty area.

With your heading skills your team can use the long ball tactic and completely bombard your opponents with long passes towards their penalty area.The correct part of the head to use is the forehead. This is the hardest and flattest part of your head, and it will give you better control over where you want to make the ball go as well as giving greater power.

As with every other soccer skill, learning how to head a ball properly may take you some time to learn. We often see our young soccer players who can play the ball well on the ground, but are clueless when the ball is played in the air. Often the problem is a fear of getting hurt, but once they learn to head the ball properly using the forehead, there is no danger. Players should learn to head the ball with soft balls at the early ages and slowly be introduced to the soccer ball.Remember to keep your focus on improving your heading skills every practice. If you do that, you will soon notice some great results in your heading skills.

Types of Headers

There are certain types of heading used while playing in the field. All are very much important as they can surely win you the ball possession and helps in controlling during narrow situations when kicking is not suitable. Defensive headers, attacking headers, diving headers, and the knock-on (flick)are among them.

Attacking Header

This header is used to score goals.

Steps

1. Look at the ball.
Look at the ball through this entire process. This allow you to perform a header more efficiently.

2. Plant your feet.
This will give you the full power necessary to easily put the ball past the goalkeeper.

03. Lean back.
When you lean back you are building momentum, much like you do when bringing your foot back to shoot. 

4. Jump (optional)
If the ball is too high for you, perform a jumping header.

5. Move your head forward quickly.

The faster you head the ball, the more power you can generate. When you head the ball, use your forehead. Note: all other headers follow these basic principles. When learning other types of headers in the guide, continue to do this.

Flick-On Header
The flick-on is where you pass the ball behind you using your head. This is great for using on throw-ins and many other ways.

Steps

1. Let the ball pass over your head.

2. Flick you head up.

If you do it correctly, the ball will hit the back of your head and go behind you.
Diving Soccer Header
The diving header is considered one of the greatest plays in soccer. You will not use this often, but it is still good to know. You never know what will come at you when the game is on the line.

Steps

1. Dive into the ball. Your momentum will power the ball into the net. Warning: make sure people aren’t going to kick you when you dive.

2. Land on your arms.

The fall can hurt, and I recommend only doing a little in a training session. A great way to train is to practice them on the beach.

Glancing Soccer Header
You can use this header to direct the soccer ball. It is perfect for faking out the goalie.

1. Look at the area of the ball like you would a shot.

Heading the right of the ball will move the ball to the left. Heading it to the left will make the ball go right.

2. Flick you head in the direction you want the ball to go.

The ball will not have as much power, but it should easily fake out the goalie. You can also use this to pass the ball to a teammate.

Defensive Soccer Header
The point of this header is to clear the ball out. Use this header to send the ball high and as far away from the goal as you can.

Steps

1. Look at the bottom of the ball

Hitting the bottom of the ball with your head will help send the ball upward.

2. Head the ball.

You should use the top of your forehead, and head the ball as hard as you can. There should be no holding back on a defensive header


Techniques to perform heading
There are different types of header techniques. With every technique the ball can be directed by body turns.

1. Header from a standing position

The header from a standing position is technically the easiest type, but provides you with the most important basics of all header types. 

• Watch the trajectory of the ball.
• Right position to the ball.
• Gain momentum by tightening the upper part of your body backwards.
• The eyes are open.
• Fix your neck.
• Press the chin on your chest.
• Jump ahead with your body. Hit the ball with the right timing, not too far in front or in the back of the upper part of the body.
• Hit the ball with the whole forehead.
• If you want to change the direction of the ball, change the upper part of the body in the respective direction before heading

2. Header after jumping with both feet

This type is technically much more challenging than the header from a standing position. Especially the right timing is often a problem. It can be performed by using the following motion sequence

• Watch the trajectory of the ball.
• Right position to the ball.
• Jump dynamically.
• Gaining momentum for the jump is supported by using both arms.
• The jump goes upwards and not forward.
• The upper part of the body and the lower leg are tightened backwards (bow tension).
• The eyes are open.
• Fix your neck.
• Press the chin on your chest.
• Hit the ball on the highest point.
• Hit the ball with the whole forehead.
• If you want to change the direction of the ball, change the upper part of the body in the respective direction before heading. The turn can also be done whilst jumping, but also in the air.

3. Heading after jumping with one foot

The performance of a header after jumping using just one foot is always done out of running motion. It’s difficult and requires a lot of drill to control your body in the air. Furthermore, the right timing isn’t as easy to implement as by jumping with both feet. The header after jumping with just one foot can be performed much more dynamically. The player reaches a much higher jumping height and therefore gets much more pressure behind the ball.

• Watch the trajectory of the ball.
• Run dynamically towards the ball.
• Jump with one foot.
• Support the jumping foot by slightly bending the playing foot.
• Support the jump by using both arms.
• Try to jump very high and not too far forward.
• Gain more momentum by tightening the upper part of your body backwards.
• The eyes are open.
• Fix your neck.
• Press the chin on your chest.
• Jump ahead with your body.
• Hit the ball on the highest point.
• Hit the ball with the whole forehead.
• If you want to change the direction of the ball, change the upper part of the body dynamically in the respective direction before heading. Support the direction change by a respective motion of your head.

4. Diving Header

The diving header is a dramatic action in a soccer match and therefore very popular. After controlling the basics of the header technique, the execution is relatively easy. All you need is a little bit of courage to let yourself drop from large height. The diving header can be performed from a standing position and out of a running motion. The use of the diving header makes sense, if a match situation needs to be clarified (goal, heading the ball out of the danger zone). Attention: Injuries are possible if there are other opponent players around.

• Watch the trajectory of the ball. 
• Run dynamically towards the ball.
• Jump with both feet.
• Fix your neck.
• Stretch your neck upwards.
• Hit the ball with the whole forehead.
• Catch your body with your hands.
• If you want to change the direction of the ball, change the upper part of the body dynamically in the respective direction before heading. Support the direction change by a respective motion of your head. The result is some kind of “snake motion” in the air.