Diving header of Waldemar Victorino ruguay v netherlands 1980 – El Gráfico no. 3196, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The diving header is an attacking move in which you launch your body forward, parallel to the ground, in order to meet the ball with your head and direct it towards goal. It is one of the bravest and most spectacular ways to score, requiring you to commit your whole body to the challenge with little regard for the boots and bodies flying around you. When it comes off, there are few more thrilling sights in football, with the attacker sprawled across the turf and the ball nestling in the corner of the net. It can also be used defensively as well, of course.
The reason it is so useful is that it allows you to get power and direction on a ball that is too low to head from a standing position but too high or too far away to reach with your foot. A ball whipped in flat across the six-yard box is the classic example, sitting at an awkward height that can only really be attacked by throwing yourself at it. The Dutch forward Robin van Persie scored one of the most famous examples of all at the 2014 World Cup, launching himself horizontally to meet a long cross and loop a header over the goalkeeper against Spain in a goal that has been replayed countless times since.
To carry it out, you need to time your run so that you can dive forward and meet the ball at full stretch, keeping your eyes open and your neck firm so you can direct your header accurately. The power comes not from a nod of the head, as it would with a standing header, but from the forward momentum of your entire body as you throw yourself at the ball. You want to attack the ball rather than waiting for it to arrive, using your arms to help propel yourself forward before bracing them slightly to cushion your inevitable landing on the ground.
It would be remiss not to point out that this is a skill that takes a fair amount of courage, given the fact that you’re diving head-first into an area often full of swinging boots. That is part of what makes it so admired, of course, but it also means you should practise the technique properly before throwing yourself around in a competitive match. Working on your timing and your landing with some gentle crosses is a sensible way to build up your confidence. Get it right, though, and the diving header is one of the most rewarding ways to score or achieve a clearance if you’re a defender.