Underload Defensive Heading Clear

Objectives

• -Clear the ball with height, distance and width
• -Attack the ball rather than waiting for it
• -Follow age-appropriate heading guidance on volume

How to set it up

1. 1Mark out the working area at 24 x 18 yards. Put a cone on each corner so the boundary is obvious to the players.
2. 2A defensive zone in front of goal with a serving cone 12 yards away in a 24 x 18 yards area.
3. 3Add one extra defender to the working area and mark their start position with a flat cone.
4. 4Soft, correctly inflated balls only — keep total headers low.
5. 5Kit for this practice: Balls, Cones. Keep a supply of spare balls beside the coach so a lost ball never stops the practice.
6. 6Split 3-14 players into two or three even groups. Run two stations side by side if you have the space, so lines never grow beyond four players.
7. 7Set the area up before the players arrive, then walk them through the shape once at a jog before the first live repetition.

How to run it, step by step

1. 1Get the players into position and walk the first repetition through slowly so everybody knows where they start and where they go.
2. 2Server throws the ball into the zone for the defender to clear.
3. 3The defender heads for height and distance towards a wide target cone.
4. 4Limit each player to a small number of headers per session.
5. 5The attacking group starts a player short, so every entry pass has to be sharp.
6. 6Defenders score a point for every clean turnover; attackers need three clean end actions to win the round.
7. 7After their action each player follows their pass and joins the back of the next line, so everybody rotates through every position in the practice.
8. 8The repetition ends when the ball reaches the final target or leaves the area. The next player starts straight away.
9. 9Freeze the practice once or twice per round, make one coaching point to the whole group, then restart immediately.

What each player does

Working player

Takes the repetition: receives, executes the heading action and finishes the sequence at match pace.

Server

Delivers a consistent, firm ball on the coach's call, then collects a spare ball ready for the next repetition.

Defender

Starts passive and builds to full pressure, staying side on and forcing the working player into their weaker side.

Waiting players

Stand behind the start cone with a ball ready, watch the repetition in front of them and step in the moment it finishes.

Coach

Stands where the whole picture is visible, serves or calls the start, and makes one clear point per freeze.

Timings and organisation

• -Run 3 rounds of roughly 3 minutes inside the 10 minute slot.
• -Give 45-60 seconds of rest between rounds so the quality of the work stays high, and use that gap for your coaching point.
• -Rotate roles at the end of every round so each player works, serves and defends across the practice.
• -If the practice is too easy, move to a progression rather than adding more repetitions. If players are struggling, drop to a regression for one round and then build back up.

Common mistakes

• -Backing away from the ball
• -Too many repetitions in one session
• -Trying to beat two players instead of releasing early
• -Standing still and watching instead of moving into the next position