| Heading a football 09:50 - Jul 19 with 846 views | KeithHaynes |
The FA is to trial the removal of heading at all age groups under the age of 12, The Athletic understands.
If the trial, which has been granted approval by the International Football Association Board (IFAB), proves successful, heading could be removed from these age groups entirely in time for the 2023-24 season.
Heading has been linked to dementia, with a study showing ex-professional Scottish footballers born between 1900 and 1976 were three-and-a-half times more likely to have the disease as a cause of death.
It has also been linked to chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a brain condition triggered by repeated blows to the head.
In 2002, a coroner found that heading was responsible for the death of former West Bromwich Albion striker Jeff Astle – recording a verdict of “death by industrial disease”.
Five of England’s 1966 World Cup winning team have been diagnosed with dementia, with four dying of the disease.
The PFA has previously called for football stakeholders to create a fund for players with dementia.
At the start of the 2021-22 season, the FA introduced guidance limiting professional players to 10 high-force headers in training per week – those following a long pass of more than 35 metres or from crosses and set-pieces.
Concussion substitutes were introduced to the Premier League in February 2021, allowing a player with a suspected brain injury to be replaced without the club suffering a numerical disadvantage.
However, last month, The Athletic revealed the FA had no plans to follow rugby union in changing concussion laws to ensure players had a minimum 12-day stand-down, despite pressure from the PFA.
The first game without heading was trialled in late September by the Head for Change charity, set up by the family of former Middlesbrough defender Bill Gates, who was diagnosed with probable CTE in 2017.
The issue has also been at the centre of other sports. For example, several rugby union players have recently been diagnosed with early-onset dementia, including World Cup winning England hooker Steve Thompson, and former Wales captain Ryan Jones.
Dawn Astle, Jeff's daughter, is PFA project lead for neurodegenerative diseases in football. She told The Athletic: "We want all our children to enjoy their football, but they must be able to play safely. The proposed new trial to extend the heading guidelines already in place for training to matches is a logical and sensible step.
"Football has a duty of care to continue to mitigate against the risks of heading a ball. This obligation includes youth football but also applies to the care of players in the elite professional game.
"Going into the 2022/23 season, all professional clubs must incorporate the appropriate heading guidelines into their training regimes. Their responsibility extends to their youth, women's and men's teams."
Judith Gates, chair of Head for Change, added: "An important first step towards formally experimenting with football’s rules has been made. The recent banning of heading in training for this age group was an acknowledgement of the fragility of young brains. Now removing it from the games themselves is a constructive step towards making their footballing world safer.
"Since we do not know what level of heading is safe, if, indeed, any, this is an important move towards a player-centred approach, and illustrates the recognition from the FA and IFAB of the need to protect young players, As such, it is a tacit acceptance of the dangers of head impacts. |  |
| |  |
| Heading a football on 10:03 - Jul 19 with 827 views | onehunglow |
Tackling in rugby,then cricket < ball is hard > And any motor sport,as you could get killed
Andy Powell pilloried yesterday over “ insensitive” remarks regarding Ryan Jones,which they probably were BUT life and sport is full of danger.
I’ve raced motor cycles. My old girl alway worried but I loved it and knew I could not go home after a meeting and end up on a body bag . [Post edited 19 Jul 2022 10:05]
|  |
| |
| Heading a football on 11:13 - Jul 19 with 768 views | BryanSwan |
What i find unbelievable is that they continually use studies on footballers from the 60s as an accurate representation of the game today.
The ball is not the same. So clearly it wont be accurate.
I agree kids shouldn't be heading a leather ball, practice with a foam one or plastic in training. How many time does a U12 manage to head the ball in an actual game? | |
| |
| Heading a football on 11:54 - Jul 19 with 738 views | jasper_T |
| Heading a football on 11:13 - Jul 19 by BryanSwan |
What i find unbelievable is that they continually use studies on footballers from the 60s as an accurate representation of the game today.
The ball is not the same. So clearly it wont be accurate.
I agree kids shouldn't be heading a leather ball, practice with a foam one or plastic in training. How many time does a U12 manage to head the ball in an actual game? |
As the quoted article states "We don't know what level of heading is safe", only that some level has been proven to be unsafe, so restricting it for young age groups is entirely sensible. Studies of long-term effects take - shock - a long time, it's impossible to know what the state of a modern academy player's brain will be in 40 years from now with or without heading.
Children are too young to make informed decisions that can effect their long-term health. It's not like an adult making the choice to ride a motorcycle knowing the dangers. We take those types of decisions out of the hands of children all the time.
The potential downside is the lack of training leading players to not learn how to head the ball properly/safely. That's something a lighter foam ball won't help with. | | | |
| Heading a football on 12:09 - Jul 19 with 723 views | swan_si |
| Heading a football on 11:54 - Jul 19 by jasper_T |
As the quoted article states "We don't know what level of heading is safe", only that some level has been proven to be unsafe, so restricting it for young age groups is entirely sensible. Studies of long-term effects take - shock - a long time, it's impossible to know what the state of a modern academy player's brain will be in 40 years from now with or without heading.
Children are too young to make informed decisions that can effect their long-term health. It's not like an adult making the choice to ride a motorcycle knowing the dangers. We take those types of decisions out of the hands of children all the time.
The potential downside is the lack of training leading players to not learn how to head the ball properly/safely. That's something a lighter foam ball won't help with. |
Learning how to head the ball properly never affected Ashley Williams career  |  | | |
| Heading a football on 12:50 - Jul 19 with 685 views | ReslovenSwan1 |
Centre forwards centre back and attacking midfield player usually get the worst bangs head to head clashes. Some one like Leon Britton or Wayne Routledge hardly ever headed the ball.
If the game is stopped for recovery after head bang then automatic substitution and 12 day rest, Teams have 25 man squads.
A maximum number of competitive games/ minutes per season in all the leagues for players classed as headers of the ball based on statistics for all players or anyone with history of concussion.
Possible consideration of headguards for forwards and centre backs to absorb impact. This could lead to players being more aggressive of course.
"The PFA has previously called for football stakeholders to create a fund for players with dementia." That is their job I would have thought. Millions already in the bank.
The FA and FAW need to be more proactive and take precautions after taking the best medical advice. Each game should have a medical assessor independent of clubs to make the calls for automatic substitutions and outside the influence of untrained managers of teams. |  |
| |
| Heading a football on 18:56 - Jul 19 with 604 views | BryanSwan |
| Heading a football on 11:54 - Jul 19 by jasper_T |
As the quoted article states "We don't know what level of heading is safe", only that some level has been proven to be unsafe, so restricting it for young age groups is entirely sensible. Studies of long-term effects take - shock - a long time, it's impossible to know what the state of a modern academy player's brain will be in 40 years from now with or without heading.
Children are too young to make informed decisions that can effect their long-term health. It's not like an adult making the choice to ride a motorcycle knowing the dangers. We take those types of decisions out of the hands of children all the time.
The potential downside is the lack of training leading players to not learn how to head the ball properly/safely. That's something a lighter foam ball won't help with. |
Some level has proven to be unsafe with 1960s footballs. As that is where most of their data comes from.
The propsal is no heading at all for U12 and 10 headers a week over 12, surely you can see just how ridiculous that is. | |
| |
| Heading a football on 19:16 - Jul 19 with 587 views | magicdaps10 |
Surely the stopping of heading would involve more possession and passing football with no long balls.
Maybe Russell is a visionary🤣
Jokes aside, this is one of the reasons that the FA coaching systems are pushing passing and possession football. I was lucky enough to see in Valencia the oassing/possession styled football in younger age levels and it was really an eye opener.... I got to witness it at high ground above the jardi del turia and I fully applauded it back then, not done as a link to heading ball but goes hand in hand as the issue has progressed.
I don't think heading will or can be fully stopped, think it has a big part to play in corners and free kicks as far as 30 yards out but certainly in open play could be cut out. |  |
| |
| Heading a football on 19:35 - Jul 19 with 570 views | ReslovenSwan1 |
| Heading a football on 19:16 - Jul 19 by magicdaps10 |
Surely the stopping of heading would involve more possession and passing football with no long balls.
Maybe Russell is a visionary🤣
Jokes aside, this is one of the reasons that the FA coaching systems are pushing passing and possession football. I was lucky enough to see in Valencia the oassing/possession styled football in younger age levels and it was really an eye opener.... I got to witness it at high ground above the jardi del turia and I fully applauded it back then, not done as a link to heading ball but goes hand in hand as the issue has progressed.
I don't think heading will or can be fully stopped, think it has a big part to play in corners and free kicks as far as 30 yards out but certainly in open play could be cut out. |
I remember watching Stoke city under Pulis in their pomp v Valencia in the Europa cup or equivalent. It was fascinating. It was on ITV I think so a few years back.
Stoke did their thing and appeared on top but after 70 mins the tide turned as Valencia never panicked or deviated from their style and won 2-1. | |
| |
Login to get fewer ads
| Heading a football on 19:37 - Jul 19 with 566 views | ReslovenSwan1 |
| Heading a football on 19:35 - Jul 19 by ReslovenSwan1 |
I remember watching Stoke city under Pulis in their pomp v Valencia in the Europa cup or equivalent. It was fascinating. It was on ITV I think so a few years back.
Stoke did their thing and appeared on top but after 70 mins the tide turned as Valencia never panicked or deviated from their style and won 2-1. |
Correction it was 0-1.
https://www.uefa.com/uefaeurop | |
| |
| Heading a football on 20:33 - Jul 19 with 536 views | onehunglow |
| Heading a football on 19:16 - Jul 19 by magicdaps10 |
Surely the stopping of heading would involve more possession and passing football with no long balls.
Maybe Russell is a visionary🤣
Jokes aside, this is one of the reasons that the FA coaching systems are pushing passing and possession football. I was lucky enough to see in Valencia the oassing/possession styled football in younger age levels and it was really an eye opener.... I got to witness it at high ground above the jardi del turia and I fully applauded it back then, not done as a link to heading ball but goes hand in hand as the issue has progressed.
I don't think heading will or can be fully stopped, think it has a big part to play in corners and free kicks as far as 30 yards out but certainly in open play could be cut out. |
No not a visionary ,a missionary.
Have some respect mun | |
| |
| Heading a football on 21:00 - Jul 19 with 523 views | Catullus |
I tried hard not to head a ball, it didn't wtop my head getting addled! | |
| |
| |
By continuing to use the site, you agree to our use of cookies and to abide by our Terms and Conditions.