Football Language: (A) Glancing header

A glancing header describes a header where the player only slightly touches the ball. To glance is a verb that means to have a quick look, but to glance off something means to hit something at a shallow, or narrow, angle and bounce off. A glancing header is when the player slightly touches the ball, changing its direction only a little. Especially at close range, a glancing header maintains the speed of the ball and can wrong foot the goalkeeper and defence.