Heading
Heading Technique Pairs: Two-Touch Limit
Learn safe heading technique
Heading
Defending
Receiving
Premium
Heading Technique Pairs: Two-Touch Limit is a 10-minute heading drill for 2-16 players, suitable for Under 12 to Adults at beginner, intermediate, advanced level. You need balls, cones. 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
Defending
Receiving
Technical Practice
Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced
Full Squad
Minimal Equipment
Youth Friendly
Adult Suitable
Quick 10 Minutes
First Touch
Speed of Play
Two Touch
Duration
10 min
Players
2-16
Pitch size
10 x 8 yards
Ability levels
Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
Pitch diagram
Heading Technique Pairs: Two-Touch Limit — Pairs facing each other · 10 x 8 yards
Step 1 of 4Server throws gently for the partner to head back.
- 1. Server throws gently for the partner to head back.
- 2. Ten headers then swap.
- 3. Progress from standing to a one-step approach.
- 4. Players are limited to two touches — one to control, one to release.
- Ball
- Pairs working across a marked lane
- C = coach / server
- Solid arrow = pass, thick = shot, dashed = run / dribble
Objectives
- -Learn safe heading technique
- -Attack the ball rather than let it hit you
- -Direct the header accurately
Setup
- 1Pairs stand five yards apart with one ball.
- 2Cones mark the working area.
- 3Coach walks the group through technique first.
Coaching instructions
- 1Server throws gently for the partner to head back.
- 2Ten headers then swap.
- 3Progress from standing to a one-step approach.
- 4Players are limited to two touches — one to control, one to release.
Coaching points
- -Eyes open, contact with the forehead
- -Neck firm, attack through the ball
- -Arms out for balance and space
- -First touch out of the feet into the next action
- -Body open before the ball arrives
Common mistakes
- -Closing the eyes
- -Letting the ball hit the head
- -Contact on the top of the head