Heading a football

[Herts Clarets]

Reports that children under the age of 11 are not to be taught to head a football and limits will be placed on the amount of heading older children can do to try to prevent brain issues in later life. I used to love nothing more than making a good headed clearance when I played as a youngster and it never did me any harm.

I don't know if I have mentioned it but I used to love making a good headed clearance when i played football in my childhood. Never did me any harm....

[evensteadiereddie]

Beat me to it, Herts.

[FactualFrank]

It sounds to me like you're dismissing any science that suggests heading a ball is harmful?

Surely, if studies suggest it is harmful, then we just play it safe?

[tim_noone]

It sounds to me like you're dismissing any science that suggests heading a ball is harmful?

Surely, if studies suggest it is harmful, then we just play it safe?

What about Sea Lions ?!

[Herts Clarets]

Not sure about the sea lions.

But I used to love nothing more than making a good headed clearance when I played as a youngster and it never did me any harm....

[FactualFrank]

What about Sea Lions ?!

They are crap at penalties.

[tim_noone]

They are crap at penalties.

Come on frank....you can't score a penalty with your head.

[duncandisorderly]

Come on frank....you can't score a penalty with your head.

Is that true? I mean, aside from being extremely difficult, is there anything in the laws of the game to prevent you from doing so?

[FactualFrank]

Come on frank....you can't score a penalty with your head.

Speechless. I thought you were meant to be intelligent?

[tim_noone]

Is that true? I mean, aside from being extremely difficult, is there anything in the laws of the game to prevent you from doing so?

I suppose a sea lion could on reflection.

[Bosscat]

Speechless. I thought you were meant to be intelligent?

He spent too much time heading a ball Frank

[Colburn_Claret]

Reports that children under the age of 11 are not to be taught to head a football and limits will be placed on the amount of heading older children can do to try to prevent brain issues in later life. I used to love nothing more than making a good headed clearance when I played as a youngster and it never did me any harm.

I don't know if I have mentioned it but I used to love making a good headed clearance when i played football in my childhood. Never did me any harm....

Theres more chance of being run over crossing the road.
How long before the snow flakes ban crossing the road.
Once upon a time it was normal to want your sons to grow up to be men, those in charge seem determined to prevent it.

[Quickenthetempo]

The standard of kids football has improved massively with passing along the floor a priority.
Gone are the days of hoofing it forward.


All teams are highly coached and heading the ball doesn't occur that much anymore in games. This new rule will only help coaches.

[ceborame]

Speechless. I thought you were meant to be intelligent?

Is this an oxymoron ?

[FactualFrank]

Is this an oxymoron ?

Depends.

[evensteadiereddie]

Theres more chance of being run over crossing the road.
How long before the snow flakes ban crossing the road.
Once upon a time it was normal to want your sons to grow up to be men, those in charge seem determined to prevent it.

Aye but perhaps they want them to grow up to be men without damaged brains....

[tim_noone]

Aye but perhaps they want them to grow up to be men without damaged brains....

[Wile E Coyote]

probably a good thing, yet boxing is still a sport many youngsters go into willingly, if ever there was a sport designed to cause brain issues its boxing.

[Bosscat]

Is this an oxymoron ?

Thats rude calling someone an Ox and a Moron tut tut tut shame on you

[IanMcL]

It sounds to me like you're dismissing any science that suggests heading a ball is harmful?

Surely, if studies suggest it is harmful, then we just play it safe?

Science has not proven it at all.

[IanMcL]

If there is any connection with football and these horrendous diseases of the brain, then it must surely be the real clash of heads between attacker and defender, which cause the problem? Footballs compress on impact, heads don't.

[mdd2]

That may compress but some of the force hits the head clearly and then the brain shifts so called contra coup

[conyoviejo]

You shake my nerves and you rattle my brains
Too much heading drives a man insane
Goodness gracious
Great balls of lead

[Ashingtonclaret46]

The standard of kids football has improved massively with passing along the floor a priority.
Gone are the days of hoofing it forward.


All teams are highly coached and heading the ball doesn't occur that much anymore in games. This new rule will only help coaches.

All part of the intention to make football into a non-contact sport with referees being told that any contact must be penalised one way or another. It is all being introduced through the back door and the game will be unrecognisable in twenty years.
There will be more contact in netball than there is in football the way it is going.

Having said that, the scientific research has said that heading a ball causes damage so I am waiting for it to have its effect.

[Wile E Coyote]

if you've ever got under a ball from a goal kick for example, and made a poor contact, it doesn't half hurt. feels like a sodding cannon ball has landed on top of your bonce.

[conyoviejo]

if you've ever got under a ball from a goal kick for example, and made a poor contact, it doesn't half hurt. feels like a sodding cannon ball has landed on top of your bonce.
[/quote

That's nothing,getting the old lace up ones covered in mud on the wrong part of the bounce nearly knocked you out or left you with lace marks on the forehead.lol

[tim_noone]

if you've ever got under a ball from a goal kick for example, and made a poor contact, it doesn't half hurt. feels like a sodding cannon ball has landed on top of your bonce.

Yea but it didn't do you any harm......did it? You'd only head it once though back in the Day at Barden.

[Wile E Coyote]

heading it as a young lad ensured Barden was my only hope for an education, obviously that went **** up.

[AlargeClaret]

I presume the study has taken into full account the huge weight differential in the old school balls as opposed to the almost beach ball esque modern prem balls? . My concern is the use of the heavier mitre balls right through to almost u16 in many cases .Teams are supposed to use the prem balls but prefer the cheap as chips over pumped up rock hard mitre jobs

[Gordaleman]

probably a good thing, yet boxing is still a sport many youngsters go into willingly, if ever there was a sport designed to cause brain issues its boxing.

Boxing also proves how humane we humans are. Wanting one person to knock someone else brainless in the name of sport.

Bring back the Lions and the Gladiators. Le't do the job right eh?

[evensteadiereddie]

Good point.

[Lord Beamish]

The best wingers could always make sure that the laces were facing away from you when you headed their crosses.

[NottsClaret]

I presume the study has taken into full account the huge weight differential in the old school balls as opposed to the almost beach ball esque modern prem balls? . My concern is the use of the heavier mitre balls right through to almost u16 in many cases .Teams are supposed to use the prem balls but prefer the cheap as chips over pumped up rock hard mitre jobs

Interestingly, the match balls used in professional football today are the same weight as they were in the 1900s. Obviously not by the end of the game, on a wet pitch.

[AlargeClaret]

Interestingly, the match balls used in professional football today are the same weight as they were in the 1900s. Obviously not by the end of the game, on a wet pitch.

Yes it’s quite startling that the “ dry weight” is the same. No doubt the materials are vastly different and of course the aerodynamics of the ball and the displacement of water in the modern ball . We had some keeper training and the distances covered for goal kicks by lads 11-15 using prem balls over mitres was considerable with the keepers not all having to “ kick through” the ball to get it long and high .

[Bacchus]

Theres more chance of being run over crossing the road.
How long before the snow flakes ban crossing the road.
Once upon a time it was normal to want your sons to grow up to be men, those in charge seem determined to prevent it.

As someone who coaches a junior team I've taken quite an interest in this debate as it's gone on in recent weeks. One of the things that has struck me is that a large portion of the people who are opposed to it seem to accompany their argument (such as it is) with the entirely predictable accusation that anyone showing concern for the safety of children is a snowflake. Personally I'd rather be a snowflake than be responsible for causing children problems in later life during what is for the overwhelming majority nothing more than a fun activity, and while it's very difficult for the science to conclusively prove links between heading a ball and brain damage it's surely best to err on the side of caution.

The only sensible argument I've heard against this ban is that if you don't show kids how to head a ball safely in training then they are more likely to hurt themselves by getting it wrong in a match. I can see a logic to this and the ruling seems to accommodate that by allowing for gradual introduction into training as the children get older.

I would always encourage kids to play the ball on the floor and maybe it's partly down to the age group of my team but most coaches that I come across seem to feel the same - that's surely the fun part of football, not banging heads with an opponent while trying to clear a ball that is coming down with snow on it.

Heading the ball is a strange concept anyway. If we hadn't grown up with it as part of the game and somebody suggested introducing it I'm sure we'd all find it pretty weird. Maybe football would be better if heading wasn't allowed full stop - it would partially remove the disadvantage of not happening to be as tall as your opponent for starters.

[Colburn_Claret]

As someone who coaches a junior team I've taken quite an interest in this debate as it's gone on in recent weeks. One of the things that has struck me is that a large portion of the people who are opposed to it seem to accompany their argument (such as it is) with the entirely predictable accusation that anyone showing concern for the safety of children is a snowflake. Personally I'd rather be a snowflake than be responsible for causing children problems in later life during what is for the overwhelming majority nothing more than a fun activity, and while it's very difficult for the science to conclusively prove links between heading a ball and brain damage it's surely best to err on the side of caution.

The only sensible argument I've heard against this ban is that if you don't show kids how to head a ball safely in training then they are more likely to hurt themselves by getting it wrong in a match. I can see a logic to this and the ruling seems to accommodate that by allowing for gradual introduction into training as the children get older.

I would always encourage kids to play the ball on the floor and maybe it's partly down to the age group of my team but most coaches that I come across seem to feel the same - that's surely the fun part of football, not banging heads with an opponent while trying to clear a ball that is coming down with snow on it.

Heading the ball is a strange concept anyway. If we hadn't grown up with it as part of the game and somebody suggested introducing it I'm sure we'd all find it pretty weird. Maybe football would be better if heading wasn't allowed full stop - it would partially remove the disadvantage of not happening to be as tall as your opponent for starters.

I respect your view, but I don't agree with it.
Heading a ball, climbing trees, playing conkers, swimming in a river.... the list is endless of things that were natural to us in our youth, which we would deny the kids of today. I don't say I want kids to be allowed to head a ball because I couldn't give a **** if they get hurt in future life, but because doing all those things is part of what makes us men. Mollycoddling the kids of today isn't doing them any favours at all. Where do you draw the line, do we wrap them in bubble wrap and never let them leave the house, or do we send them out expecting the knocks, cuts and bruises that go with growing up, and teaches us character. My grandchildren will be just as susceptible to head injuries as the next child, but I love them too much to ever consider wrapping them up in cotton wool.

[Claret Toni]

The best wingers could always make sure that the laces were facing away from you when you headed their crosses.

I played with some crap wingers then (I knew that already, 'cos it was a bloody miracle if they got the ball across, no matter which way the lace was facing).

[jrgbfc]

Massive difference between heading the modern, lightweight balls of today than heading the old style footballs, which seems to have caused dementia among a lot of ex players.

[bfcmik]

Just because a, thankfully very small, group of ex-professionals have suffered dementia with a possible link to the huge number of balls they headed in practice and in matches (it isn't as though people who have never headed a ball in their lives don't get dementia) doesn't mean that it is common enough to put a generic ban in place. Most of us have grown up playing 'headers', keepy-uppy with the head and heading the ball in games at the local rec, school playgrounds or on the front street as well as playing organised games where if you ducked out of the way of a possible header you just wouldn't get picked in future. As kids we were out in most weathers playing some variation of football almost every day.

How many non professional players have shown up with dementia that may be attributed to heading a football? That would be a far more compelling statistic to my mind. 99.999% of kids will not play at a level that demands heading the ball multiple times almost every day. The % of those who make it into professional ranks and who have gone on to develop dementia is no greater than the normal occurrence within the general population as far as I am aware.

[bfcmik]

Massive difference between heading the modern, lightweight balls of today than heading the old style footballs, which seems to have caused dementia among a lot of ex players.

How many is 'a lot'? What percentage of former pros have developed the disease?

[aggi]

I respect your view, but I don't agree with it.
Heading a ball, climbing trees, playing conkers, swimming in a river.... the list is endless of things that were natural to us in our youth, which we would deny the kids of today. I don't say I want kids to be allowed to head a ball because I couldn't give a **** if they get hurt in future life, but because doing all those things is part of what makes us men. Mollycoddling the kids of today isn't doing them any favours at all. Where do you draw the line, do we wrap them in bubble wrap and never let them leave the house, or do we send them out expecting the knocks, cuts and bruises that go with growing up, and teaches us character. My grandchildren will be just as susceptible to head injuries as the next child, but I love them too much to ever consider wrapping them up in cotton wool.

What's your view on heading in women's football?

[jrgbfc]

How many is 'a lot'? What percentage of former pros have developed the disease?

Not very scientific I know, but it just seems like a hell of a lot have. Pretty sure a few members of the World Cup winning side have died of it, of the more high profile cases. It's not really surprising, heading the old style footballs when they were wet must have been like getting bashed in the head by a brick.

[deanothedino]

It sounds to me like you're dismissing any science that suggests heading a ball is harmful?

Surely, if studies suggest it is harmful, then we just play it safe?

There's a few posters on here who demonstrate the risks of heading a ball.

[MT03ALG]

I spent a night in Burnley Victoria Hospital as a 17 year old (more than 60 years ago) suffering from concussion after heading an old, wet, leather ball in training with Winewall Rangers !! When I asked the nurse where I was the morning after the incident, she said I had asked her that a few times already !! I've been ok ever since, I think - others may dispute this !!

[keith1879]

I respect your view, but I don't agree with it.
Heading a ball, climbing trees, playing conkers, swimming in a river.... the list is endless of things that were natural to us in our youth, which we would deny the kids of today. I don't say I want kids to be allowed to head a ball because I couldn't give a **** if they get hurt in future life, but because doing all those things is part of what makes us men. Mollycoddling the kids of today isn't doing them any favours at all. Where do you draw the line, do we wrap them in bubble wrap and never let them leave the house, or do we send them out expecting the knocks, cuts and bruises that go with growing up, and teaches us character. My grandchildren will be just as susceptible to head injuries as the next child, but I love them too much to ever consider wrapping them up in cotton wool.

This is fair comment ....but climbing trees, playing conkers and swimming in a river all have immediate and obvious possible negative results. The whole issue with heading a ball is that it doesn't......but there seem to be possible negative results dozens of years down the line. I see that as a good reason for being cautious about encouraging children to do it.

[Colburn_Claret]

This is fair comment ....but climbing trees, playing conkers and swimming in a river all have immediate and obvious possible negative results. The whole issue with heading a ball is that it doesn't......but there seem to be possible negative results dozens of years down the line. I see that as a good reason for being cautious about encouraging children to do it.

True, but only a percentage of people heading a ball will get future damage. It must be a very small percentage otherwise it would have been flagged up long ago. Considering the symptoms are shared by people who've never headed a ball in their lives the true number is probably smaller still. We are using a sledgehammer to crack a walnut. Another in a long list of everyday activities we are in danger of losing. If we want our children to grow up strong we have to reverse this trend.

[Rileybobs]

True, but only a percentage of people heading a ball will get future damage. It must be a very small percentage otherwise it would have been flagged up long ago. Considering the symptoms are shared by people who've never headed a ball in their lives the true number is probably smaller still. We are using a sledgehammer to crack a walnut. Another in a long list of everyday activities we are in danger of losing. If we want our children to grow up strong we have to reverse this trend.

What do you mean by ‘grow up strong’? How does heading a ball or playing conkers help our children grow up strong, whatever that may mean?

[aggi]

What do you mean by ‘grow up strong’? How does heading a ball or playing conkers help our children grow up strong, whatever that may mean?

It makes them a man. Obviously.

[Jakubclaret]

What do you mean by ‘grow up strong’? How does heading a ball or playing conkers help our children grow up strong, whatever that may mean?

By becoming desensitised to pain more, more warrior like.

[Rileybobs]

By becoming desensitised to pain more, more warrior like.

How does heading a ball or playing conkers make children become desensitised to pain? Why would we want children to be more warrior like?