How to Head a Soccer Goal

The best goal that can be scored in soccer, that takes the least amount of skill, is the header. A header should be performed when someone kicks the ball in the air and you cannot kick it with your feet.

1. Locate the ball
   
   
2. Position yourself square to the ball as it arrives.
3. Either standing or jumping, bend at the waist and thrust your upper body toward the ball.
4. As you feel the ball hitting your head, quickly turn your head to face the goal. Hit the ball, don't just let the ball hit you. Keep your eyes open all the way through contact, so you don't "whiff" or have the ball hit you in the nose.
5. You want to strike the ball with your forehead at a point just above the midpoint of the ball, so that your shot will project downward near ground level. This will lower the chances of your shot sailing over the crossbar, and will make your shot more difficult to stop. Goalkeepers have more difficulty getting low to block a shot than they do jumping or diving to stop a higher shot.
6. Practice by having a teammate toss or kick the ball from the sidelines to you as you stand near the goal. Keep practicing until you can can consistently get the ball low and on goal.

Tips

• You can also tilt your head up or down to send the ball high or low.
• Diving headers can be performed when you are unable to square yourself before the ball gets to you; in which case dive at the ball in the direction of the goal and strike it with your head.
• Don't be afraid of the ball, if you hit it directly and confidently, the header will work and not hurt, but if you shy away from the ball or let the ball hit your head, the header will hurt.

Warnings

• Do not dive into the goal post; this may result in serious injury.
• Try not to let the ball poke you in the eye.
• Close your jaw so you don't bite your tounge.
• Keep your eyes open so the ball does not hit you in the face.
• Be careful