How to Do a Headstall With a Soccer Ball

The headstall is one of the most fundamental tricks a soccer freestyler should learn. It helps you build coordination, increase body awareness and look incredibly cool. As with most freestyle tricks, practice makes perfect. Follow these steps and don't get down on yourself if mastering the headstall takes longer than you had hoped it would. The end result is worth the wait.

Instructions

1. Practice juggling a soccer ball with your head before trying to stall it. Toss the ball up above your head, keep your eyes on it, and hit it back up into the air with your head. Focus on keeping the ball under as much control as you can.

2. Hold the ball in your hands and find a spot on your head where it seems most likely to stay put. For most people this will be at the top of the forehead near the hairline. If this doesn't work for you, then experiment a bit until you find a place that does.

3. Try balancing the ball on your head while holding it in place very gently with your hands. If it starts to fall off, try to keep it up by repositioning your head instead of immediately grabbing it with your hands.

4. Balance the ball on your head without the help of your hands. Keep your arms bent and hold your hands either in front of you or out to your sides to help you stay balanced.

5. Toss the ball up into the air and try to catch it using only your head. Absorb as much of the ball's bounce as you can by lowering your entire body just a bit as it touches your head.

6. Try walking around with the ball on your head once you can stall the ball while standing still.

Tips & Warnings

• Always keep your eyes on the ball, unless you're trying to stall it on the very top of your head.

• Stall the ball on the front of your forehead if you're having trouble keeping it balanced elsewhere.