Heading game

A fast, competitive heading game. One goal, two teams either side. A player comes to the penalty spot, a teammate throws it up and they head at goal to beat the keeper, then has to sprint into goal themselves, because the other team heads next and a slow turnaround leaves the goal open.

Mid (U9 to U13)Older (U14 to U18)Warm-upFun & gamesFitness & movement

Created by Danny Jordan

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In play

The setup

Step by step

A player from the heading team runs out to the penalty spot (or cone).

A player from the opposing team goes in goal.

A teammate throws the ball up to that player and they head it at goal, trying to beat the keeper.

The player who just had the header then goes in goal and the opposing team then has a chance to score a header with the same routine described above.

Age group

Mid (U9 to U13), Older (U14 to U18)

Duration

10-15 mins, kept fast.

Players

8+, split into two teams either side of the goal (with one player in goal at a time).

Area

Around the penalty spot, one goal.

Equipment

A goal, a ball, bibs to split the two teams, and a cone to mark the heading spot.

FA Four Corners: what this develops

Technical / TacticalPsychologicalPhysicalSocial

Objective

Practise attacking headers at goal, and do it at tempo: the quick turnaround from heading to getting back in goal is what makes it competitive.

Set up

One goal with a keeper. The two teams line up either side of the goal. A cone (or the penalty spot) marks where the header is taken from. One team starts in goal, the other heads first, then they alternate.

Coaching points

Speed is everything: the instant you have headed it, sprint back into goal, if you are slow the other team can head into an open net.
Attack the ball, get your forehead to it and head it down and into the corners, away from the keeper.
The thrower serves it up accurately so the header can attack it at pace.