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Attacking Header Finishing: Scan and Cue
Score with the head from a cross
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Finishing
Crossing
Attacking Header Finishing: Scan and Cue is a 14-minute heading drill for 4-16 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
Skill Practice
Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced
Full Squad
Youth Friendly
Adult Suitable
Goals Needed
Scanning
Decision Making
Awareness
Duration
14 min
Players
4-16
Pitch size
Penalty area plus flanks
Ability levels
Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
Pitch diagram
Attacking Header Finishing: Scan and Cue — Crossing and finishing — wide delivery into the box · Penalty area plus flanks
Step 1 of 4Crosser delivers, runner attacks near post or penalty spot to head at goal.
- 1. Crosser delivers, runner attacks near post or penalty spot to head at goal.
- 2. Alternate delivery sides.
- 3. Eight headers each.
- 4. The coach shows a colour or number and the receiver must call it before their first touch.
- Cones mark the area
- Full goal
- GK = goalkeeper
- Dashed lines = wide crossing channels
- Ball
- Solid arrow = pass, thick = shot, dashed = run / dribble
Objectives
- -Score with the head from a cross
- -Time the attacking run
- -Direct headers downwards
Setup
- 1Crossers on each flank with a supply of balls.
- 2Runners start at the edge of the box.
- 3Keeper in goal.
Coaching instructions
- 1Crosser delivers, runner attacks near post or penalty spot to head at goal.
- 2Alternate delivery sides.
- 3Eight headers each.
- 4The coach shows a colour or number and the receiver must call it before their first touch.
Coaching points
- -Attack the ball, do not wait for it
- -Head down and across the keeper
- -Use the arms to create separation legally
- -Scan over the shoulder as the ball travels
- -Head up early so the picture is taken pre-touch
Common mistakes
- -Jumping too early
- -Heading up over the bar
- -Running in a straight line and being marked