Heading
Transition Attacking Header Target
Direct headers downwards towards goal
Heading
Finishing
Crossing
Transition 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
Transition
Duration
12 min
Players
3-14
Pitch size
34 x 28 yards
Ability levels
Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
Pitch diagram
Transition Attacking Header Target — Finishing set-up — serve, receive, shoot · 34 x 28 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. Coach serves a loose ball into the middle and both teams react to win it.
- 5. On every turnover the winning team has six seconds to attack the opposite target.
- 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 34 x 28 yards area.
- 2Mark a second target area at the opposite end so the practice can flip direction instantly.
- 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.
- 4Coach serves a loose ball into the middle and both teams react to win it.
- 5On every turnover the winning team has six seconds to attack the opposite target.
Coaching points
- -Meet the ball at the top of the jump
- -Head down towards the corner
- -Arms used for balance, not leverage
- -First reaction after the turnover decides the moment — forward or secure
Common mistakes
- -Heading up and over the bar
- -Excessive repetitions
- -Stopping to appeal instead of reacting to the turnover
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