What training should look like for players when heading is allowed

You can still use the usual session ideas when practising heading. This includes:

• improving players’ judgement of high balls
• key movement skills
• using their body as a barrier
• scanning for their team and the opposition.

You might want to use lighter or sponge balls when including heading practices. This helps players get used to the ball’s contact with their heads. The lighter ball minimises the load on their bodies. It also allows them to get used to the techniques needed to defend, pass, or score with their head. When first introducing how to head the ball, players should practise headers unopposed, in line with training guidance.

It can also be beneficial to include neck-strengthening exercises in training. Research shows these exercises can help prepare players to head the ball. You can find this, and more resources, at the bottom of this article.

There’s different guidance for heading depending on how old your players are. You can find the latest information here.

What matchday should look like for players when heading is allowed

There may be a slight increase in heading as it starts to be introduced, but it remains a low priority. Other key skills, focused on retaining and loving the ball, are seen more often in the game at this age.

As players get older, their knowledge of the game and physical strength develops. This leads to a more visible tactical use of restarts, resulting in more headers. This means players will use different skills, including:

• judging and adjusting to the flight of the ball
• attacking the ball at the optimum point
• head and ball contact to control direction and distance.

As players start using different heading types, consider introducing position-specific movement patterns.

Think about your players’ individual needs

When introducing heading it’s important to be aware of your players’ individual needs, especially if you coach disabled footballers. For example, people with Down’s syndrome are more likely to have underlying neck instability and so should never head the ball. Speak to your players and their parents or carers before introducing heading practices.

More resources

• Sex differences in heading incidence and performance in professional football.
• The 2015 U.S. Soccer Federation header ban and its effect on emergency room concussion rates in soccer players aged 10-13.
• Heading in Football: insights from stakeholders in amateur football.
• The effect of ball characteristics on head acceleration during purposeful heading in male and female youth football players.
• Neuromuscular neck exercises and injury risk in football.
• Neck training – sports medicine.
• Professional football neck strengthening guidance.