Heading game with coach's throw and rotating keeper
Two teams in facing lines: the coach lofts a throw, the header attacks the ball and heads between the cones while a player from the other team acts as keeper. The team with most headed goals wins.
Step 1Lanzamiento y remate
1 / 3
El entrenador lanza colgado; el 1 rojo ataca el balón y cabecea entre los conos.
Objective
Attack the aerial ball on the move and head with the forehead, with power and downwards, in a competitive format that keeps everyone active.
Organisation
Two zones separated by a 5-6 m cone goal in the middle. Each team (bibs and non-bibs) lines up behind a red cone 8-10 m from the goal, one on each side. The coach stands to one side of the goal with plenty of balls. A player from the team opposite the header stands between the cones as keeper.
Development
- 1The coach throws a lofted ball towards the first red player, in front of the cone.
- 2The header runs onto the ball, jumps and heads, trying to score between the cones.
- 3The blue keeper defends with any part of the body.
- 4After the attempt, the keeper joins the back of his own team's line and the red player who just headed becomes the keeper for the next throw to the blue team.
- 5The coach now throws to the first blue player and the sequence repeats, alternating teams.
- 6One point per headed goal; the team with most points after two full rounds wins.
- 7As the technique improves, vary the height and angle of the throw and the distance of the cone.
Coaching points4
- Attack the ball: arrive at the contact point on the move, do not wait for it standing still.
- Contact with the forehead, eyes open and neck firm; the power comes from the trunk, not just the neck.
- Take off on one foot, land on both; use the arms to rise and balance.
- Head the top half of the ball to send it down into the bottom corners, with power.
Common mistakes3
- Closing the eyes and heading with the top of the head.
- Jumping too early and heading on the way down, with the ball above the head.
- Keeper forgetting to join the opposite line and blocking the rotation.
Variations3
- Coach serves with the foot for faster trajectories.
- Two servers, one per side, to speed up the tempo.
- The keeper may only use his hands so the header learns to aim for the corners.
Progressions2
- Service from the side (like a cross) instead of head-on, to demand turning the trunk.
- A passive defender running alongside the header.
Regressions2
- Soft or foam ball and a shorter throw for the youngest players.
- Header without a jump: the ball is thrown to forehead height.
Tips
- Walk through the rotation slowly before you start scoring.
- Call the score out loud: the bibs-versus-non-bibs competition keeps the intensity up.