Children banned from heading footballs during training

Football associations in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland have issued new guidelines for children heading the ball.

The restrictions apply for all age groups for under-18s, with under-12s banned from heading the ball.

The rules, which will be introduced immediately, will only apply in training.

It follows research that showed former footballers were three-and-a-half times more likely to die from brain disease.

There will be a graduated approach for youngsters aged between 12 and 16.

FA chief executive, Mark Bullingham, said: “This updated heading guidance is an evolution of our current guidelines and will help coaches and teachers to reduce and remove repetitive and unnecessary heading from youth football.

“Our research has shown that heading is rare in youth football matches, so this guidance is a responsible development to our grassroots coaching without impacting the enjoyment that children of all ages take from playing the game.”

The University of Glasgow study, published in October last year, found that former professional footballers were more likely to die of degenerative brain disease – and five times more likely to die from Parkinson’s disease.

There was no evidence in the study that linked incidences of the disease with heading the ball, but the FA said the new guidance had been issued to “mitigate against any potential risks”.

Updated heading guidance

• Heading guidance in training for all age groups between under-six and under-18
• No heading in training in the foundation phase (primary school children)
• Graduated approach to heading training for children in the development phase between under-12 to under-16
• Required ball sizes for training and matches for each age group
• No changes to heading in matches, taking into consideration the limited number of headers in youth games

Scottish FA chief executive, Ian Maxwell, said Scottish football had a “duty of care” to young people and those responsible for their wellbeing.

“The updated guidelines are designed to help coaches remove repetitive and unnecessary heading from youth football in the earliest years, with a phased introduction at an age group considered most appropriate by our medical experts,” he said.

Irish FA Chief Executive, Patrick Nelson, said: “Our football committee has reviewed and approved the new guidelines. As an association we believe this is the right direction of travel and are confident it will be good for the game, and those who play it.”

Dr John Maclean, who works for the SFA and also took part in the University of Glasgow Field Study, said Scotland was helping to lead the way globally.

“I am proud that the Scottish FA has taken a positive, proactive and proportionate approach to the findings of the field study,” he said.

“Scottish football has taken a lead of the subject of head injury and trauma in sport, from becoming the first country in the world to produce cross-sport concussion guidelines, to having one of the best medical education programmes in sport.”

A similar ban, that also includes restrictions during matches, has been in place in the United States since 2015.

The rule change there came after a number of coaches and parents took legal action against the US Soccer Federation.