Stalling a soccer ball on your head is CRAZY difficult.
But… does it have to be?
Well, not really! If you follow the right steps and learn a couple of tips…
…I bet you’ll master head stalls in no time!
In today’s post and video, I’ll be telling you what those steps and tips are so you’ll learn how to catch a soccer ball on your head like the best in the game.
Introduction
Among the coolest tricks in the entire game of soccer is the head stall.
The head stall is a move that is rarely seen in games, but it can actually be something that is very useful in a game situation.
It’s not always going to factor into a game, but knowing how to catch a soccer ball on your head can mean the difference between controlling the ball or not.
In addition to that, it’s also a really cool thing to be able to do for your friends and family to marvel at!
In this article, we’re going to take a look at what it is, when to do it, and how to use it on the field during a game most effectively.
What Is a Stall?
The word “stall” might seem like a bit of a curious one to use in this instance, but it really makes perfect sense.
A stall is your basic trap only heightened to a degree.
In a normal trap, you use your foot, head, chest, knee, etc. to control the ball.
In a stall, you are taking that part of the body and making the ball stay still.
That is what a stall is, and that is why it can be quite a useful tool to use when on the pitch — both for fun and for results.
What Is a Head Stall?
With the above said, a “head stall” is basically forcing the ball to stay still on your head!
How to Catch a Soccer Ball on Your Head
Let’s now learn the steps involved in doing a head stall.
#1. Center Up
Whenever we head the football, we are looking to use our forehead.
Just like when we are actively trying to head the ball in attempt to move down the field, we are going to use this part of your head.
The first thing you need to do is to place the center of the ball on the forehead. This will give you the feel of what you want and it will also mimic the action you will get later on after catching it.
When the ball inevitably moves, you have to continue to move with the center of the ball to keep it on your forehead.
This is the best way because you have the most surface area possible in comparison with the top of the head.
NOTE: Another good tip is to keep your knees unlocked. You don’t ever want to be standing straight up with your legs buckled on the pitch, but you especially do not want it here.
This will allow you to move side to side much more gracefully and allow you to stall the ball on your head.
#2. Lean Your Head Back
This should be fairly common sense to most experienced soccer players, but for beginners, you might not know that it is much easier to control the ball in some instances by leaning either forward or backward.
Because this move is with your head, it’s a no-brainer that you want to lean back.
Unless you are going against the laws of physics or have glue on your head, you won’t possibly be able to stall the ball on your head while leaning forward!
#3. Juggling
Getting the ball up to your head in order to stall it is the hardest part for some people.
Sure, you can always use your hands to place it there. But this is not acceptable in a game and the girls and boys down at the field won’t be nearly as impressed by it.
So you have to learn juggling which, for some, is actually harder than stalling is. It just depends on the person.
There are some simple steps, though, that you can use to flick the ball toward your head for a stall.
- Place the ball under your dominant foot.
- Then take the laces and pop the ball into the air just about ankle height.
- Use that foot to scoop the ball into the air. You can use a juggle or two, or as many as you like.
- Get your head up under it and begin trying to stall.
Expert Tips
A couple of other tips that I want to pass on is that you just cannot give up.
It is going to look ugly for a while, but you can and will improve with practice. If you give up, you won’t get it.
No great players, or football freestyle tricksters, got where they are by giving up. I can assure you of that.
The other tip you need to understand is that head stalling is a lot simpler than it looks.
While it is not easy to master, it is something that everyone literally has the capability to do and is not on the level that some things in this game are on.
How to Do a Head Stall [Video]
The following short video perfectly illustrates steps #1 and #2 above. Be sure to check it out to fully understand what I talked about above.
When to Use a Head Stall on the Field
You’re playing a close game and you need something that is going to help you win.
Is this the trick?
In most cases, I would say no.
You should never attempt to do this as a way to advance the ball.
However, you can use it to control the ball in a very effective manner.
By knowing how to stall a soccer ball on your head, you naturally have learned how to trap the ball to a much higher degree.
So you can always use this move as a way of using a couple or so headers in order to control the football in the air and then bring it down for your team.
It may not sound like much, but in reality this move, like so many other soccer tricks, actually can bleed over into your regular skills.
Even if it doesn’t help you every game, it breeds confidence in the individual that you are able to do things quicker and more skillfully.
Conclusion
The head stall isn’t just some fancy-looking move that serves no purpose.
Unlike some of the audacious things you may see in the local park, it has a purpose that serves to teach players the fundamental principle of keeping control of the ball no matter what the situation may be.
Knowing how to stall a soccer ball on your head can bail you out of tight situations in a game or it can impress those around you.
Either way, this move is well worth learning and practicing!
Now… get out there and try it yourself!
