Quote Originally Posted by blue matt View Post
I coach a girls U12 team, we occasionally play friendlies against U12 boys

from the girls game, we will see around 5 headers per game, our team have 12 registered players and 3 ( maybe a 4th ) of them will head the ball

watching the U12 boys games, heading does come into the game a little more, but you still dont see long balls, as everyone want to be Messi
When I used to play youth team football, i didn't feel comfortable heading the ball, until i was playing U15s.

By comfortable i mean comfortable jumping and directing a football and being dominant in the air. Before that i felt it was always a bit of close your eyes and let it hit you.