Football heading ban for under-12s

Headers shown the red card - 8th August 2022

An outright ban on heading in matches is to be trialled by the Football Association (FA) of England and Wales for under-12 football players. It follows research suggesting that footballers are more vulnerable to degenerative brain disease.

The trial is to be implemented in England from the start of the forthcoming football season and will be coordinated with soccer leagues, clubs and schools. "Should the trial be a success, the aim is to then remove deliberate heading from all football matches at U12 level and below from the 2023-24 season," an FA statement said.

Research into head trauma from sport, led by consultant neuropathologist Dr Willie Stewart, has highlighted that the risk of professional footballers contracting dementia is 3.5 times greater than those in a similar age group in the general population. New regulations were introduced as a direct result last year, advocating a top limit of 10 “higher force” headers weekly when training for professional soccer players in England.

Ex-West Bromwich Albion striker Jeff Astle, and members of the 1966 England World Cup squad, including Jack Charlton and Nobby Stiles, died after enduring brain functioning diseases believed to be caused by the repetitive heading of a football over several years.

Astle's daughter Dawn, the project lead for neurodegenerative diseases in football at the Professional Footballers' Association, responded positively to the news. "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 care of players in the elite professional game.

Paul Edwards, director of clinical services at Dementia UK, also commented. "This decision from the FA is important as it shows an increased awareness of the damage that can be caused to the brain from prolonged heading of a football - especially in a young child or adult. It is also a prime example of ways to potentially mitigate increased diagnoses in the future."

For some, the ban could have a knock-on negative effect on the drama of the game itself, but the impact of heading on players' brain health is undeniable.