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Rotation Attacking Header Target
Direct headers downwards towards goal
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Finishing
Crossing
Rotation Attacking Header Target is a 12-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
Goals Needed
Heading Guidance
Rotation
Duration
12 min
Players
3-14
Pitch size
28 x 22 yards
Ability levels
Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
Pitch diagram
Rotation Attacking Header Target — Finishing set-up — serve, receive, shoot · 28 x 22 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. Play starts at station one and the ball works round the numbers in order.
- 5. Every player must complete each role once before the round is scored.
- 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 28 x 22 yards area.
- 2Number every station so players know exactly where they travel to next.
- 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.
- 4Play starts at station one and the ball works round the numbers in order.
- 5Every player must complete each role once before the round is scored.
Coaching points
- -Meet the ball at the top of the jump
- -Head down towards the corner
- -Arms used for balance, not leverage
- -Follow your pass — the movement is part of the practice
Common mistakes
- -Heading up and over the bar
- -Excessive repetitions
- -Staying in a favourite role and avoiding the harder one
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