Blog
Articles on soccer heading technique, training, tactics, safety, and the players and moments that defined heading in football history.
Defensive Heading: How to Coach the Backline to Win Crosses
Defending crosses is not eleven individual contests. Here is how to coach a back four to win the ball, the flick-on and the second ball.
Neck Strengthening Exercises for Headers: The Full Programme
The full neck-strengthening catalogue for footballers who head the ball — three tiers, exact sets and reps, and the age rules that keep it safe.
Soccer Heading Rules by Age Group: US Soccer and FA Guidelines 2026
What age can youth players start heading? US Soccer and English FA rules explained for coaches and parents — with session volume limits by age group.
The 5 Most Common Heading Mistakes Coaches See — And How to Fix Them
The heading errors that coaches see again and again in youth and adult players — with the specific drill fixes that eliminate each one.
How to Build a 20-Minute Heading Training Session
A ready-to-use 20-minute heading session structure for coaches — warm-up, technical block, applied block, and cool-down with specific drill recommendations for each phase.
Neck Strength for Soccer Heading: The 4-Minute Pre-Session Routine
The four exercises every player should do before heading training — builds the neck stability that makes headers more powerful and reduces post-contact head motion.
Heading for Defenders: The 3 Situations You Have to Win
Defensive heading is a different skill to attacking heading. Here are the three situations central defenders and fullbacks face most — and how to come out on top every time.
Set Piece Heading: How to Score and Defend the Most Predictable Situations in Soccer
Corners, free kicks, and throw-ins produce a fixed share of goals at every level of the game. Here is how attackers exploit them and how defenders shut them down.
Find the article that answers your coaching question
Technique articles examine the movement itself: reading flight, choosing a base and directing contact. Training articles explain how to organise service, space and a learning objective. Safety and youth articles concern whether an activity is appropriate under the relevant rules. Read across those categories when planning a session; understanding a technical cue does not establish permission to use it with every age group.
When an article quotes a percentage, check the denominator and the period. Eight successful contests from nine attempts can look exceptional, but it is still a small sample. A season rate and a single-match rate answer different questions. Match data also depends on the provider’s definitions. Aerial-duel success, headed goals and total headers are not interchangeable measures of ability.
Use a practical question to guide your reading. For example, ask why a defender’s clearance keeps returning to central danger, or why a forward arrives beneath a cross rather than meeting it in front. These questions lead toward positioning and direction rather than a generic demand for more power. Select one adjustment and observe it before introducing another variable.
Youth rules can change with the season and vary between training and competition. Confirm the current governing-body and league requirements before relying on a summary. If a passage appears outdated or unclear, send the article address and an official source through the contact page. A remembered rule from a different country or age division is not enough to settle a coaching decision.