SoloBeginner
#1 Toss-and-head
Underhand toss to yourself, head straight back into your hands. 3 sets of 20. Groove contact point and neck lock.
View drill →Soccer Heading Drills
A library of 12 soccer heading drills — filterable by type (solo, partner, group, team) and difficulty (beginner, intermediate, advanced). Ready to use in your next session.
Type
Plan a useful drill block
Choose the drill by the task you want to improve, not simply by the number of players available. A solo or partner exercise makes the service more predictable; a group exercise adds decisions; a team activity adds movement around the first contact. Progressing through formats is worthwhile only when the player can retain the intended technique and choose an appropriate destination for the ball.
Set a visible target and explain the stopping point before starting. Keep a tally of deliberate contacts for each player and account for any other training that week. Repetition suggestions are not permission to exceed youth rules. Use shorter sets when concentration or control falls away, and do not make a player continue just to finish the plan.
Change one variable at a time. You might adjust the target before increasing service distance, or add an approach step before adding a jump. Watch the outcome as well as the contact: a defender needs a useful clearance, while an attacker needs a direction that challenges the goalkeeper. If the task becomes uncontrolled, reduce its complexity rather than asking for more force.
Level
Plan a useful drill block
Choose the drill by the task you want to improve, not simply by the number of players available. A solo or partner exercise makes the service more predictable; a group exercise adds decisions; a team activity adds movement around the first contact. Progressing through formats is worthwhile only when the player can retain the intended technique and choose an appropriate destination for the ball.
Set a visible target and explain the stopping point before starting. Keep a tally of deliberate contacts for each player and account for any other training that week. Repetition suggestions are not permission to exceed youth rules. Use shorter sets when concentration or control falls away, and do not make a player continue just to finish the plan.
Change one variable at a time. You might adjust the target before increasing service distance, or add an approach step before adding a jump. Watch the outcome as well as the contact: a defender needs a useful clearance, while an attacker needs a direction that challenges the goalkeeper. If the task becomes uncontrolled, reduce its complexity rather than asking for more force.
SoloBeginner
#2 Wall headers
Head a ball repeatedly against a wall from 2 metres. Focus on flat forehead contact, eyes open at impact.
View drill →PartnerBeginner
#3 Partner seated headers
Sit on the ground, partner tosses. Removes jumping, isolates torso snap and neck strength.
View drill →PartnerBeginner
#4 Standing partner headers
Face partner 3 metres apart, alternate soft headers. Directional focus — head straight to hands.
View drill →PartnerBeginner
#5 Head-and-catch progression
Toss → header → catch. Then toss → head → head → catch. Builds rhythm and consistency.
View drill →PartnerIntermediate
#6 Attacking downward header
Partner tosses over head height, you head down at a target on the ground. Contact upper half of ball.
View drill →PartnerIntermediate
#7 Defensive clearance
Partner throws high; you clear it up, back, and wide of them. Height and distance over power.
View drill →PartnerIntermediate
#8 Jump-and-head
Timed jump off two feet. Ball tossed slightly higher than reach so the header happens at the peak of the jump.
View drill →GroupAdvanced
#9 One-v-one aerial
Server plays a floated ball between two players. Both attack. Teaches body positioning, timing, and physicality.
View drill →TeamAdvanced
#10 Cross-and-finish
Wide server delivers to attackers arriving from deep. Alternate near-post flick and back-post attack.
View drill →TeamAdvanced
#11 Corner routines
Rehearse near-post flick-on, back-post attack, and edge-of-box knockdown from the same corner delivery.
View drill →TeamAdvanced
#12 Aerial second balls
Long ball forward, target player heads on, three runners chase second ball. Trains reaction and support runs.
View drill →Plan a useful drill block
Choose the drill by the task you want to improve, not simply by the number of players available. A solo or partner exercise makes the service more predictable; a group exercise adds decisions; a team activity adds movement around the first contact. Progressing through formats is worthwhile only when the player can retain the intended technique and choose an appropriate destination for the ball.
Set a visible target and explain the stopping point before starting. Keep a tally of deliberate contacts for each player and account for any other training that week. Repetition suggestions are not permission to exceed youth rules. Use shorter sets when concentration or control falls away, and do not make a player continue just to finish the plan.
Change one variable at a time. You might adjust the target before increasing service distance, or add an approach step before adding a jump. Watch the outcome as well as the contact: a defender needs a useful clearance, while an attacker needs a direction that challenges the goalkeeper. If the task becomes uncontrolled, reduce its complexity rather than asking for more force.