heading

[Bobby Moore]

I play for my local U14 team and have just started playing again after having about 11 mounths off due to a knee injury (osgood schlatters). Im having a problem with jumping up and chalenging for the ball. although i am very tall, usually the tallest player on the pitch, i cant seem to win the ball when i jump up and challenge for the ball have you any tips for me.

[74offsuit]

Work on the key factors.

1. Get in line - Sounds like you have the experience to do this naturally
2. Assess flight - Move forward to shorter ball, retreat for further
3. Side on body position
4. Movement from the hips to generate power.

Ask your coach to deliver some heading sessions, both attacking and defensive, as it sounds like it's a timing issue for you. I'm not sure this can be taught (easily!), but some good quality practise will help.

[Jerzy]

Ouch on the OS. My brother had that, so I know the pain and discomfort it can bring. Best of luck to you for sticking with it and working past this.

Heading is about the desire to go and get the ball in the air, and about the timing. Really the timing. So it needs a lot of practice to do well (and I say this as someone who never put a lot in the aerial game as a player), and it requires a good server, and this is the problem. The thrown ball travels differently than the driven or crossed ball, so having someone toss the ball doesn't do a lot for your game-time performance. So the first thing you have to do is find someone who can give you lots of practice and then once you find someone, you'll have to figure out some incentive for keeping him interested in helping you over the long run.

[Paul Hill]

For me one of the most important factors for out jumping your opponent and heading the ball is having a positive attitude. Positioning before you head is important, but being positive and believe you're going to win every header you go for will help no end. Keep practising and stay poitive, and it will all fall into place. Good luck.

[DR DAVID MOROKE]

tie a ball to tree branch or a cross bar with a pantyhose.practice both defensive and offensive heading techniques.adjust the height of the ball as you get better.progress to having someone throw the aerial balls to you for headers,without pressure then passive pressure followed by active pressure.you can use team mates or friends.good luck! remember head the ball at its highest point! do not wait for the ball to come down!

[lanesra]

Get a wall and kick balls off the wall that you can head. Depending on your motivation level and how long you can stick with this, you'll get lots of good practice if you don't allow the ball to sail over you without getting a head on the ball. You'll get tired and bored after 10 minutes, but stick with it for 20 minute sessions and all the jumping will make your legs stronger.

As for getting some height on your jumps, this is a matter of leg strength and explosiveness. You can make yourself better in this way. Get a jump rupe and make 10 minutes a day part of your fitness regimen. Then try the wall drill with 3-5 pound ankle weights. Then, after you've got this as a base, look to find someone who knows something about plyometrics, and work there, for plyometrics are designed to help your sports explosiveness, and that is a major part of getting some elevation on your jumps, since being the tallest, you'll be expected (fairly or unfairly) to be the guy to win the aerial duels.