Edition 29

Welcome to the Soccer Newsletter. Today's newsletter will deal with defensive headers.

First, I would like to apologize for not sending a newsletter last week. I was doing some traveling and ran out of time. I am sorry for this.

Next, I have created the FineSoccer Soccer Forum. This has been created to help soccer people help other soccer people. Please check it out at http://finesoccer.com/forum.htm

Players forget that there are huge differences between defensive headers and offensive headers. Most of the time players practice heading, they are told to head the ball down in order to score. What these players don't realize is that there are reasons for heading a ball down in order to score and there are also reasons for heading a ball up and away in the defensive third of the field.

The reasons for heading down in order to score will be discussed in a future newsletter. The main reason for heading a ball up in the defensive third of the field is that you want to clear the ball over the oncoming attackers. If you were to head the ball down, the likelihood of them being able to receive the ball at their feet. By heading the ball up and away, you decrease the chances of the opponent receiving the ball and being able to get to goal quickly.

If the defender is in the defensive third of the field and the ball is served in to her general area, a few decisions would have to be made. The first is whether there is time and space to receive the ball and bring it down to feet. If she makes the determination that there is not time to bring the ball down, then the next decision is whether the opportunity exists to play the ball down to a teammates feet. If this can not be done safely, then the next option is to clear the ball away from pressure. This usually means clearing the ball up and away from the oncoming players. Ideally, this header should be made toward the far corner flag on the same side of the field b(meaning if you are on the left side of the field, it should be headed toward the flag on the left side but closer to the goal you are attacking.

In order to head the ball up and away, you should make contact with the ball using your forehead. If the ball had a horizontal line through the center of the ball you would want to make contact just below this line (by doing this the ball will rise). Keep your   eyes on the ball and generate power by coming forward with your upper body. Use the momentum of the ball, along with the power of your abs to get the ball over the oncoming opponents.

If you have any comments, questions or suggestions, please send them to comments@finesoccer.com or post it to http://finesoccer.com/forum.htm

Check out the archives at http://finesoccer.com.

Have a great day

Lawrence