When will heading be banned from football?

[ablueclaret]

With accumulating evidence that long-term heading of the ball leads to early onset dementia, much as being punched in boxing, how long until heading becomes outlawed or head gear required?

[claptrappers_union]

I think headgear will come into play first. But also, you have to take into account, assuming that there is actually evidence that long-term heading of the ball does lead to early onset dementia, that footballs are much lighter than they were even 20 years ago. They were much heavier especially when holding rain water.

[Tall Paul]

Possibly at the same time as punching is banned in boxing.

[Sidney1st]

Head gear?

Anyone else remember Ruddock wearing the Predator Head Band?
One of the best April fools jokes ever in the media.

[Blackrod]

As said above lighter footballs. Do the stats show that ex footballers are more likely to get it than the general public because I'm not sure they do. Dementia is more commonplace and people are more aware of it. It just happens that some well known ex footballers have it too.

[Shore claret]

They had someone on the radio this morning saying that young kids should be banned from heading the ball.
If you watch young kids playing football hardly any of them head the ball. In fact they try their best not to head the ball

[RocketLawnChair]

It is impossible to create a risk free society and mores the point nor should we. Make people aware of the risks and if they want to carrying on heading a football, getting punched in the face or even eating to many chips then good luck to them. We all have to die of something someday you know.

[bob-the-scutter]

It`s only coming to light now with Jeff Astle and a few more who`ve been studied. Players who played during the 60s/70s when the balls were made from leather which when wet could cave your head in. Footballs of today are nowhere near the same and I think that once some bright spark realises this the "Problem" will be gone.

[Paul Waine]

Professor John Hardy was on Today programme (R4) this morning. He's one of the people who've researched professional footballers. He cautioned that his research shouldn't be extrapolated to apply to others, i.e. social/occasional footballers - as that wasn't the focus of their research.

There was mention of heavy leather footballs - hard even before they were wet. But, they also said that although footballs are now lighter, and don't soak up water, footballers are also a lot stronger and fitter - so, it's possible that the ball can "hit with more force."

Interestingly he said he remembered scoring a goal with a header as a 13 year old in Burnley. According to LinkedIn he was born in 1954, now 62. Does anyone on this mb know him? Who is claiming the assist? Who was the keeper that he beat?

[minnieclaret]

I'd like to know how much more damage is done by clashes of heads and elbows to the face.
Solid on solid must be worse than a bag of air.

[Dyched]

I know its not the same but I watched a brilliant film about head/brain injuries in American Football recently. Can't remember what it's called. Will Smith in the lead role.

[Dyched]

Concussion. Its a great watch

[minnieclaret]

The sooner they end the myth about using your arms to jump, the better.
1) High jumpers start with their arms raised but when they are at the top of their jump they are back down.
2) Watch a defender head a corner away. They are heading it at 90deg but never have their arms up.

[ablueclaret]

Heading towards goal and away from goal do require different techniques, you really need to get higher to head the ball down when you are attacking.

[Firthy]

Like everything else these days. Do gooders trying to dictate what we can do in our lives and clubs will have to cover their backs now because of the compensation culture. All foot ball grounds will have signs around the pitch "heading the ball is dangerous for your health"

Sorry if this comes across as uncaring but watching the grief coming from Jeff Astle's daughter and others really cheesed me off. Does she think a man who scored the only goal in a cup final and loved playing football would have changed his profession if he knew that heading a ball might possibly harm you.

By all means publish the report and make footballers aware of it and let them decide if they are prepared to take the risk. The over reaction and out pouring of grief over this report is just too much for me. Big brother yet again trying to take away any choices you have in life.

[LoveCurryPies]

Game would be improved if it was banned.

[Firthy]

Game would be improved if it was banned.

Heading the ball or the game itself

[Caernarfon_Claret]

I loved heading the ball as a kid.

[Dy1geo]

Litigation or the fear of litigation will have a big influence in deciding whether to ban heading in the game. All it needs is one big payout and the FA's around the world will quickly act. It is noticeable that it is banned in youth football in the USA (don't know what age it is up to)

On a personal opinion I think it should be banned in Junior football in the U.K. especially when they play on the smaller pitches, this will encourage kids to become more technically skilled rather than relying on size and strength

[Wile E Coyote]

seems strange to consider it being banned,but as anyone on here knows who has been struck in the bonce from a shot during a match, or even headed a high ball from a goalkick for example, it can feel like a lead weight has been used.There might be allsorts of complex maths involved about mass and velocity, but undoubtably it doesnt do anyone any good.

[Sidney1st]

Litigation or the fear of litigation will have a big influence in deciding whether to ban heading in the game. All it needs is one big payout and the FA's around the world will quickly act. It is noticeable that it is banned in youth football in the USA (don't know what age it is up to)

On a personal opinion I think it should be banned in Junior football in the U.K. especially when they play on the smaller pitches, this will encourage kids to become more technically skilled rather than relying on size and strength

I think it's banned to under 13's, they mentioned it on the news last night.


Your second point is actually a very good idea.

[Funkydrummer]

They should change to walking football, where anything above head height is a foul.

That would help us enormously with our lack of pace !

[basil6345789]

As schoolboy the worst balls, even worse than a wet leather casey, were those heavy plastic ones with a rough surface finish - terrible to head and would really sting your legs. A goalie's nightmare too.

[CrosspoolClarets]

The number of things that we will discover cause damage to the brain, we'll end up banning everything.

In truth though I have had no intention of ever heading a football for over 30 years, they always made me dizzy and I always felt sure they damaged the brain long term. Even new balls.

I would personally invent some form of cushioned head gear and trial it at various levels of the game. Better than banning heading altogether.

[Sausage]

As schoolboy the worst balls, even worse than a wet leather casey, were those heavy plastic ones with a rough surface finish - terrible to head and would really sting your legs. A goalie's nightmare too.

Mitre Mouldmaster. The size 3s we had at primary school were particularly vicious especially when smacked into someone's noggin.