1.be born tall.
I’m sorry, but being tall is an advantage. You’ll probably have the ability to reach more balls more easily than your shorter opponents and teammates. I realise that this is something difficult to change but there are a few options.
i. The doctors in China have done fantastic leg extension surgery. This could help you add a few inches. You may be asking “ Gerald, so much pain and agony for just being a few inches taller? Is it really worth is?” Well let me say that at the kampong level that most of us play in, a few inches really makes a world of difference.
ii. Growth Hormone. This only works if you are under 21 and your epiphyseal plates in your bones have not closed yet. However there are some pretty serious side effects to this. These include things like bone deposition such that you become pretty ugly, decreased glucose tolerance etc, etc.. Contact your nearest corrupt general practitioner.
iii. Wear shoes with thicker soles.

2. Don’t stand too close to the goal post. Stand back a bit.
Again this is common sense. As you probably have realised by now unless you are Michael Jackson, running forward is a lot easier than back-pedalling. And it also is a lot easier to dive forwards to head the ball than to lean backwards. In fact I think it is almost impossible to head the ball towards the goal whilst leaning backwards. Another advantage is that while standing away from the goal you tend to draw the defenders out to mark you. The advantage of this is that they and not you will be the ones backpedalling and trying to head the ball while leaning backwards. Also if the ball is way in front, the split second they take to turn to chase the ball will give you an extra advantage.

3. Don’t close your eyes.
Actually this one comes from Marcus Ang. I found it to be really helpful. I think most of us miss balls that are actually ours simply because we do not see them. Our body has this marvellous mechanism that makes us close our eyes when we have something approaching it. This however must be overcome if we are to contact the ball. Keeping your eyes open will ensure you don’t “head the air” and make a moron of yourself. Also you won’t end up with the ball hitting your face.

4. Attack the ball with power.
It’s no point heading if you don’t scare the living s**t out of the goalie. Basically the way to get power is to really get all your body weight behind the ball. My way of doing this is to basically dive at the ball and let your momentum get transferred to the ball. I find that the best height for heading the ball is below head level as that is when you can really give that bugger a good walloping. Basically my method is to cheong at the ball and not to care about the pain and the risk of intracranial haemorrhages. Basically you know you’ve headed it with sufficient power when you are a bit marbok after heading the ball. But a warning here: If the pain doesn’t go away or you start feeling nauseous and vomiting, then you probably are going to die unless you see a doctor. Seriously.

5. Which part of the head to use?
Whichever part can get to the ball. Normally you don’t have a choice as the defenders will be crawling all over you.

6.Timing is everything.
Too fast and you have to wait for it, too slow and you won’t get there in time. Basically this is something that has to be practiced. I got a lot of practice practicing with you in your house.

7. Fear no pain.
Fear of getting hurt is one of the main reasons why goals are not scored. Just get youre a** in there and heck the consequences. The memory of scoring a spectacular goal will be worth the pain.haha.

Okay. That’s all I have for now.haha.