US Soccer guidelines limit heading before age 11-12. This is introductory heading at low volume and with soft balls. We use a beach-ball-style ball or oversized soft ball. Five reps, not twenty. This is about building the technique safely.
What you need: 1 soft ball (beach ball size or oversized soccer ball) per child. Open space.
Setup: Child stands alone with the soft ball.
How to run it:
- Child tosses the ball underhand to themselves at forehead height.
- Child lets the ball drop in front of them, about 1 foot away.
- Child keeps their neck firm and their eyes open.
- Child leans forward and heads the ball down using the forehead, not the top of the head.
- Do 5 headers total.
What to watch: Do they keep their eyes open? Eyes closed means they flinch.
If they’re struggling: Use a softer ball. Reduce the toss height.
If they’ve got it: Head the ball back up instead of down.