Annual training plan · U9–U13

Week 29: Shooting & Heading for Kids

3 complete training sessions with 12 drills – created by licensed coaches. Open every drill in the easy2coach web app with one click.

This week’s focus

The preparation devotes a total of 3 weeks to technique. In the first two weeks, players refined their dribbling (to keep possession and to beat an opponent), passing and receiving. This week, the technique block is completed with heading and finishing.

As with passing, the focus when shooting is first on accuracy before power is increased. Players also practise finishing with the inside of the foot, the inside of the instep and the laces. It is not only about technical coaching but also about when to use the different finishing techniques.

For example, the side-foot shot is particularly suitable for first-time finishes from close range. When the ball is shot at goal from longer range, the laces shot is an effective technique for generating enough power.

As with the other technique practices, finishing is also worked on with increasing pressure of time, space and opponents, so that players first internalise the technique and finally train finishing in match-realistic situations.

In heading practice, besides technically clean execution, the main aim is to develop good timing. This means that players should get a feel for the flight of a ball so that they can position themselves correctly for a header. It will also be about the right moment to jump.

Heading is much easier to learn with a two-footed take-off. In a second step, however, the one-footed take-off should also be taught, because it allows a greater jumping height.

Author Luis Österlein

Session 1

4 drills

In today's session, a total of 3 exercises work on finishing in a match-realistic way.

At the start, a 1 vs 1 has to be won before finishing on goal. Once the opponent has been beaten, the player should not cut again in order to finish with the “strong” foot. Instead, encourage your players to finish with the “weaker” foot.

This is followed by 4 vs 4 with 4 support players per team. They may only play first time. This drill should produce lots of first-time finishes close to goal. The small-sided game therefore simulates finishing practice very close to goal, because the vast majority of goals are scored first time or with 2 touches inside the penalty area.

The session ends with a heading competition in which the players head at a goal with a goalkeeper after a throw. The main aim is for the players to develop a feel for the flight of the ball. Once the players have no difficulty judging the ball correctly, the technique can be coached.

Coaching points for this session

Finishing with the foot:

  • Finish boldly with both feet
  • Do not hesitate
  • Finish accurately and low into the corners

Heading:

  • Watch the flight path
  • Build up arched body tension
  • Head with the whole body
Drill 1

Coordination Passing Drill

15 min
  • Player 1 starts with a dribble through the cones.
  • At the same time Player 2 starts through the agility ladder as instructed and receives the ball from Player 1.
  • Player 2 lays the ball off first time.
  • Player 1 passes to Player 3.
  • Player 3 plays to Player 4, who takes the ball in their stride and dribbles to Player 1's starting position.
  • Every player then moves on one position.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Five cones or poles form a dribbling course, next to it lies an agility ladder; two flat markers mark the remaining positions.

Equipment: 5 cones or poles, 1 agility ladder, 2 flat markers and several balls.

Players: Players 1 to 4.

Coaching points
  • Run the ball close and with both feet in the dribbling course.
  • Bring the hands along at the agility ladder and work on the balls of the feet.
  • Play the passes with enough pace and with one, at most two, touches.
Drill 2

Numbers Duel II

25 min
  • The coach calls out a number and plays a ball towards the goal.
  • The two players with that number sprint towards the ball.
  • They play 1 vs 1 on the goal.

Variations: Call out several numbers, so that the game is played 2 vs 2 or 3 vs 3.

Equipment & set-up

Pitch: A goal stands at one end; the coach stands 20 metres in front of it with the balls.

Equipment: 1 goal and several balls.

Players: Six to eight players are divided into two groups and numbered; both groups line up next to the goalposts. Plus a goalkeeper.

Coaching points
  • Hold the ball up at the start, because the defender is standing behind.
  • Use the space.
  • Keep enough distance from the defender and switch into an open body position immediately.
Drill 3

4 vs 4 + 4 Support Players

25 minDouble penalty area
  • In a double penalty area, two teams play a free game of 4 vs 4 on two goals with goalkeepers.
  • In their respective attacking half the teams have four support players.
  • The support players are positioned on the touchlines and on the goal line of the playing area and must play first time.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Two goals, six cones to mark out the playing area and the outer zones as well as two cones near the halfway line, which mark the halves.

Equipment: 2 goals, 8 cones and at least 1 ball.

Players: Two teams of four players each, one goalkeeper each as well as four support players per attacking half.

Note: If eight outside players are assigned and split between the two teams, this can lead to long periods of standing around. Six outside players are better, with the ones on the sides playing for both teams. The roles are changed regularly.

Coaching points
  • Do not block the passing lanes to the support players.
  • Use the numerical advantage cleverly.
  • Get free to become available for a pass or open up the passing lanes to the support players.
Drill 4

Heading Competition

15 minPenalty area
  • The team-mates stand diagonally opposite each other about nine metres apart.
  • The players take turns heading at goal from the line after a throw.

Variations: Run it as a competition — which team is the first to score 5, 10 or 15 goals?

Equipment & set-up

Equipment: Enough balls and 1 full-size goal; younger players do the drill with foam balls.

Players: Teams of two players each plus one goalkeeper.

Coaching points

Coaching Point

  • Have the drill run as a competition. Which team is the first to score 5, 10 or 15 goals
The complete session as a ready-made training plan – with animated drills in the web app. Go to the web app

Session 2

4 drills

Today's session begins with a handball heading game in order to develop an even better feel for the timing of headers. After that, there is more detailed work, without pressure from opponents, on various heading techniques (one-footed and two-footed take-off, downward header).

In the last two exercises the focus is then fully on finishing once again. First in a finishing drill and then in a 3 vs 3 small-sided game with 1 extra player. The overload situations should lead to quick finishes and therefore to many finishes in the exercise.

In addition to the technical instructions, you can also support the players with the following tactical pointers:

  • Look at the goal and the goalkeeper once more before finishing
  • Low, accurate finishes into the corners are usually the most effective
  • Do not hesitate when a chance to finish arises (not even if the finish would be with the “weaker” foot)
  • Do not switch off after the finish, but anticipate a rebound from the goalkeeper
Coaching points for this session
  • Side-foot shot: particularly suitable for first-time finishes from close range
  • Full instep: particularly suitable for long-range shots
  • Inside-of-the-instep kick: suitable for finishes with curl
Drill 1

Handball Heading Game

15 min
  • Both teams pass the ball to each other by hand.
  • With the ball in the hands, a maximum of three steps may be taken; the ball is passed on by then at the latest, without stopping.
  • Goals may only be scored with the head after a pass from a team-mate; setting the ball up for oneself is not allowed.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Cones mark out the playing area; a goal stands at one side.

Equipment: 1 goal, cones and several balls.

Players: Two teams.

Coaching points
  • Demand active getting free from the players.
Drill 2

Ball Handover Heading

20 minCentre circle
  • The players in the centre run towards the players on the outside and receive a throw, which they return with a header, an instep drive or something similar.
  • The players in the middle then run towards a new outside player.
Equipment & set-up

Equipment: Enough balls; foam balls are suitable for younger players.

Players: Two groups — one inside, one outside.

Coaching points
  • Have many different heading techniques performed: from a braced step, with a one-footed take-off or as a downward header.
Drill 3

Receiving and Taking the Ball in Stride with a Finish

15 min
  • Player B passes through the cone goal to Player A.
  • Player A receives the ball and takes it away to the side.
  • Player A dribbles around the cone and finishes immediately with a shot at goal.
  • Player B moves up to Player A's position, another player takes over Player B's position.
  • After the finish, Player A joins the back of their group.

Variations: Carry out the drill as a competition — which group is the first to score 10, 20, 25 or 30 goals?

Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Five cones mark the positions and the cone goal; there is a goal at one end.

Equipment: 5 cones, 1 goal and several balls.

Players: Players A and B; plus a goalkeeper.

Coaching points
  • Show for the ball in a half-open position.
  • After a few rounds, take the ball into the movement with the first touch.
Drill 4

Small-Sided Game: 3 vs 3 + 1

25 min
  • The game is 3 vs 3 with one neutral support player playing with the team in possession.
  • The support player may not be challenged. To keep up the pace and intensity, the support player is given a touch limit — ideally one or two touches.
  • The remaining players have three touches; two are also possible.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: About ten cones mark out the playing area; two full-size goals stand at the ends.

Equipment: 2 full-size goals, 10 cones and several balls.

Players: Two teams of three plus one neutral support player.

Coaching points
  • Use the numerical advantage cleverly.
  • Finish quickly.

Session 3

4 drills

Today's training session begins with a 4 vs 2 rondo before moving back to the technical focuses of finishing and heading.

A finishing drill is carried out in which the players finish first time with both the foot and the head. If the shooter is already close enough to the goal, a side-foot shot is quite enough to put the ball in the net. The side-foot shot is so suitable because this kicking technique is very accurate even for first-time finishes.

For the finish with the head, the players come in at full speed. It often happens that the players head the ball over the goal. Here too the rule is again: watch the flight of the ball and adjust the pace and line of the run accordingly. The ball should then be headed with the broad part of the forehead, placed towards the bottom corners. The pointer “push the ball down” can be very helpful here, because players tend to strike the ball too high up.

This is followed by 2 small-sided games with an overload. These should again produce many match-realistic finishes. Encourage the players not to hesitate and to go for the finish bravely. Even with the “weaker” foot.

Coaching points for this session

Finishing:

  • Finish with either foot
  • Do not lean back
  • Accuracy comes before power
  • Choose the side-foot shot for first-time finishes
  • Before shooting, take another look at the goal and the goalkeeper

Heading:

  • Meet the ball with the flat of the forehead
  • Arch the back to build up tension
  • Head the ball with the whole body
Drill 1

4 vs 2

15 min8 x 8 metres
  • The aim for the four outside players is to keep the ball within their own ranks so that the two players in the middle cannot get to it.
  • If a player in the middle touches the ball, that player swaps position with the passer or with the player who lost the ball.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Four cones mark out the playing area.

Equipment: 4 cones and several balls.

Players: Four players on the sides, two players in the middle.

Coaching points
  • Operate in a ready position.
  • Keep adjusting the position in order to get out of the cover shadow of the players in the middle.
  • Pass with both feet.
Drill 2

Course: Heading and Finishing

20 minHalf a pitch
  • The players start at the post on both sides at the same time.
  • Both run around the poles.
  • The coaches play the ball into their run at the right moment.
  • The players go straight for the finish.
  • After the shot on goal they change direction towards the goal on the opposite side.
  • There the coaches throw the ball in for a header, which is finished on goal.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Four cones mark out the playing area, two forests of poles stand in the middle; two goals stand at the ends.

Equipment: 2 goals, 4 cones, poles and several balls.

Players: Two groups, placed diagonally next to the goals; plus goalkeepers and two feeders.

Coaching points
  • Pay attention to the shooting posture and lean the upper body over the ball.
  • Finish from close range with the inside of the foot.
  • Meet the ball with the large surface of the forehead.
  • Push the ball downwards with the head.
Drill 3

Finishing with an Overload

25 min
  • The green team starts in a 2 vs 1 and tries to get to a finish as quickly as possible.
  • After every finish — whether it goes in or not — one more attacking player with a new ball and one more defending player come into the playing area, so that step by step 3 vs 2, 4 vs 3, 5 vs 4 and finally 6 vs 5 are played.
  • If the red team wins the ball or the goalkeeper makes a save, the counter-attack goes on the goal at the other end.
  • As soon as all the players are in the playing area, there are five minutes of free play. A new round then begins with a 2 vs 1.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Six cones mark out the playing area; two goals stand at the ends.

Equipment: 2 goals, 6 cones and at least 5 balls.

Players: One attacking team in green and one defending team in red plus two goalkeepers.

Coaching points
  • Use the numerical advantage to make the game wide.
  • Demand many 1 vs 1 situations.
Drill 4

3 vs 2 + Goalkeeper

25 min20 x 10 metres
  • The attacking team, in numerical superiority, tries to get to a finish purposefully.
  • The team with fewer players may counter-attack on the other goal on winning the ball.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Cones mark out the playing area; there is a goal at each end.

Equipment: 2 goals, cones and several balls.

Players: Three attackers against two defenders; plus goalkeepers.

Coaching points
  • The team in numerical superiority occupies the playing area in width and depth.
  • The team with fewer players covers for each other.
  • It tries to provoke square passes and transitions quickly on winning the ball.
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