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Pressure Attacking Header Target
Direct headers downwards towards goal
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Finishing
Crossing
Pressure Attacking Header Target is a 10-minute heading drill for 3-14 players, suitable for Under 12 to Adults at beginner, intermediate, advanced level. You need balls, cones, full goals. Below you will find the objective, the set-up, how to run it, coaching points, common mistakes, progressions, regressions and variations.
Back to drill libraryHeading
Finishing
Crossing
Technical Practice
Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced
Full Squad
Youth Friendly
Adult Suitable
Quick 10 Minutes
Goals Needed
Heading Guidance
Under Pressure
Duration
10 min
Players
3-14
Pitch size
26 x 20 yards
Ability levels
Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
Pitch diagram
Pressure Attacking Header Target — Finishing set-up — serve, receive, shoot · 26 x 20 yards
Step 1 of 6Server clips the ball to the marked target zone.
- 1. Server clips the ball to the marked target zone.
- 2. The striker attacks it and heads downwards into the goal.
- 3. Rotate after two headers each so volume stays low.
- 4. The defender is released the moment the ball leaves the server's foot.
- 5. The working player scores by completing the action before pressure arrives; the defender scores by blocking it.
- 6. Rotation: Rotate after two headers each so volume stays low.
- Cones mark the area
- Full goal
- GK = goalkeeper
- C = coach / server
- Ball
- Dotted arrow = rotation between repetitions
- Shooter becomes the next server
- Solid arrow = pass, thick = shot, dashed = run / dribble
Objectives
- -Direct headers downwards towards goal
- -Time the jump to meet the ball at the peak
- -Keep heading volume within guidance
Setup
- 1A near-post and back-post target zone in front of goal in a 26 x 20 yards area.
- 2Position a recovering defender behind each working player, starting two yards back.
- 3Soft balls with the wide server, keeper in goal.
Coaching instructions
- 1Server clips the ball to the marked target zone.
- 2The striker attacks it and heads downwards into the goal.
- 3Rotate after two headers each so volume stays low.
- 4The defender is released the moment the ball leaves the server's foot.
- 5The working player scores by completing the action before pressure arrives; the defender scores by blocking it.
Coaching points
- -Meet the ball at the top of the jump
- -Head down towards the corner
- -Arms used for balance, not leverage
- -Feel the pressure with your body, take the touch away from the defender
Common mistakes
- -Heading up and over the bar
- -Excessive repetitions
- -Facing your own goal and getting trapped by the press
Where this drill fits
- More football heading drills
- More football finishing drills
- More football crossing drills
- football drills for U12s
- football drills for U14s
- football drills for U16s
- Football session plans built around this theme