Skills & drills for women’s football

Contents

  1. Kicking

    Kicking

    The chip, Kicking technique, Volleying, Side-volleying, Lofted kick, and Bending the ball

  2. Dribbling

    Dribbling

    Dribbling technique, Dummying, and Dribbling tricks & flicks

  3. Footie_tricks

    Footie tricks

    Keepy Uppies, Around the World, Stepover, Maradona 360 Spin, Rai flick, Adriano, Ronaldo chop, Robinho stepover, and Leonardo

  4. Control

    Control

    Close control, Foot control, Thigh control, and Chest control

  5. Turning

    Turning

    Stop turn, Body swerve, Cruyff turn, Back heel, Outside hook turn, and Inside hook turn

  6. Tackling

    Tackling

    Jockeying, Block tackles, and Sliding tackles

  7. Heading

    Heading

    Basic heading, Defensive header, Attacking header, Diving header, Glancing header, and Flick-on

  8. Passing

    Passing

    Passing technique, Short passing, One-two, Crossing the ball, and Drive passing

  9. Shooting

    Shooting

    Shooting technique, Overhead kick, and Penalty kick

  10. Goalkeeping

    Goalkeeping

    Body shots, Catching crosses, Diving saves, Rolling the ball, Overarm throwing, and Kicking from hand

  11. Set_plays

    Set plays

    Throw-in, Corner, Free kick, and How NOT to play

  12. Prep_and_routine

    Preparation & routine

    Warm up for the match, How to warm down, Mental training, Peak performance, Football food, Fitness, agility and stamina, Avoiding injury, and Respecting the ref!

  13. Training

    Training equipment

    Soccer Wall and Global Goal

Your turn

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What it looks like

Heading » Defensive header

How?

“Defensive headers enable a player to direct the ball upwards, for example in clearing the football from defence. The key to this skill is to start with the forehead underneath the ball, with legs bent and slightly apart, so that the head can move upwards forcefully to attack the ball. Your eyes should remain below the ball as it approaches, so that at the moment your forehead makes contact with the ball, your head is moving upwards. Use your legs to push yourself up just before heading the ball as this helps to achieve good distance.”

Why?

“Defensive headers, as the name suggests, are used mainly by the defence to clear the ball from the box or the opposition’s half. The idea is that the ball goes high and far, so that not only does it clear the danger zone but the height gives players time to reassemble themselves and move for the ball once it starts its descent.”

Tips & drills

  1. See the flight of the ball. Is the ball coming at you, or across your body?
  2. Get your body in line with the flight path of the ball.
  3. Attack the ball as it arrives. Make sure you contact the ball as it is coming down.
  4. Arch your back and gain power in the header from the hips, not the neck. This will generate more power, and is also a safer way to head the ball. Head the ball with the center of the forehead, not the top of the head.
  5. Eyes open, mouth closed. Keep your mouth closed so as not to bite your tongue, and eyes open to see the ball arriving and so as not to contact the ball with the nose.