Heading?

[Tricky Trevor]

I have never seen as many sitter headers missed as I have in the last two months. Some of them have been vital in the play offs, Wright for Coventry at Sunderland, Olaofe for Stockport last night and one just now for Charlton Athletic.
Have they now been banned from heading in training following all the dementia discussions?
It’s a skill no doubt but it will be sad to see it go.
Personally I think there is more damage done by head on head contact or worse elbow on head than a modern football. Far different to a wet lacer in the 60s and earlier.

[ElectroClaret]

The Charlton chance should have been in.
Not a brilliant game so far.

[ElectroClaret]

1-0 Charlton.

[Roosterbooster]

I think it was Olympiakos at home where we missed half a dozen clear headed chances. Vokes with some too, which was very uncharacteristic. With Chris Wood and Charlie Austin, he was one of 3 I'd bet to put away those headers every time

[northeastclaret]

At a time when heading is a known to be a dementia risk, more teams than ever in the championship are taking long throws and launching long high balls.

Surely rules should be changed to allow only a small number of long throws and long high balls in a match. Or alternatively ban Wilder, Heckingbottom , Eustace and similar managers from managing.

[Woodleyclaret]

Hadji Wright is just crap at heading nothing to do with practices

[Indecisive]

Personally I think there is more damage done by head on head contact or worse elbow on head than a modern football. Far different to a wet lacer in the 60s and earlier.

Tbh think I’d bow to the knowledge of the experts (neurosurgeons etc) on this.

My understanding is it’s the pure repetition that does the damage.

[Tricky Trevor]

Tbh think I’d bow to the knowledge of the experts (neurosurgeons etc) on this.

My understanding is it’s the pure repetition that does the damage.

I wouldn’t argue with a neuro-surgeon. It’s an opinion that I think is not put into the argument and should be.
In todays Cup Final Palace lost two players to concussion and neither was heading the ball. When I played I never felt anything heading a ball but have been sent googly-eyed by head collisions.

[Colburn_Claret]

I find it the most ridiculous argument. I don't know whether there's a link or not, only lots of people with dementia have never headed a ball in their life. Lots of people who did head a ball regularly don't suffer from dementia.
You might as well ban cars because people occasionally get run over, or ban crossing roads as a pedestrian.

Make the public aware there is a slight possibility by all means, but let people make their own mind up if they don't want to play football.

[Rileybobs]

I find it the most ridiculous argument. I don't know whether there's a link or not, only lots of people with dementia have never headed a ball in their life. Lots of people who did head a ball regularly don't suffer from dementia.
You might as well ban cars because people occasionally get run over, or ban crossing roads as a pedestrian.

Make the public aware there is a slight possibility by all means, but let people make their own mind up if they don't want to play football.

If heading a football does pose a significant risk of dementia in later life then I’d rather the relevant bodies look at ways to address this rather than have people making the choice between playing the sport or significantly increasing their chances of getting an awful brain disorder.

[Colburn_Claret]

If heading a football does pose a significant risk of dementia in later life then I’d rather the relevant bodies look at ways to address this rather than have people making the choice between playing the sport or significantly increasing their chances of getting an awful brain disorder.

There obviously isn't a significant risk, as the figures show it is a possibility only. There's a possibility Boxers get injured, F1 drivers, Jockeys, I.O.M. tt riders.........
We can't wrap people up in cotton wool, and they have to have the final say. It would be wrong to force people to head a football, but there is nothing wrong with them deciding for themselves that they want to play the game as it is. It's comparable to using a Sledge Hammer to crack a nut.
Dementia could just as easily be diet induced, poor air quality, how close to overhead cables you live, or any other, as yet unforeseen, danger. Picking on football just creates better headlines for the media.

[taio]

There obviously isn't a significant risk, as the figures show it is a possibility only. There's a possibility Boxers get injured, F1 drivers, Jockeys, I.O.M. tt riders.........
We can't wrap people up in cotton wool, and they have to have the final say. It would be wrong to force people to head a football, but there is nothing wrong with them deciding for themselves that they want to play the game as it is. It's comparable to using a Sledge Hammer to crack a nut.
Dementia could just as easily be diet induced, poor air quality, how close to overhead cables you live, or any other, as yet unforeseen, danger. Picking on football just creates better headlines for the media.

I'm not sure it is just as easy. I think research has shown the prevalence among footballers is higher. The best thing.to do would be to stop heading as part of regular training. As you say, it's up to people to make their own choices though.

[Jakubclaret]

If heading a football does pose a significant risk of dementia in later life then I’d rather the relevant bodies look at ways to address this rather than have people making the choice between playing the sport or significantly increasing their chances of getting an awful brain disorder.

In fairness any sort of profession carries some degree of risk. A carpet fitter could slash his fingers & builder could drop something heavy on his leg. It's how you mitigate that risk unfortunately I can't envisage any sort of PPE to assist with that. It's down to a choice of whether you run that risk.

[Goliath]

Is the risk still there? What statistical research is there to suggest it is?
Naturally players will head the ball so much less now than they ever have, I doubt they head it much in training either apart from in 11 v 11 practice games so the natural conclusion from that would be that the risk is now massively reduced but I'm not sure how that can be proven.

[Jakubclaret]

I think detailed studies have suggested that it is more likely. It's more of a question how to proceed armed with that knowledge.

[Colburn_Claret]

I think detailed studies have suggested that it is more likely. It's more of a question how to proceed armed with that knowledge.

Surely, even if we are armed with that knowledge, the way to proceed is inform people. Full stop.
We don't tell F1 drivers to slow down because driving fast is dangerous, or that you can only drive fast in the race, but P1 and P2 has a speed limit.

It's not the suggestion that heading the ball can increase dementia, that is ridiculous, rather that armed with even concrete proof, we should alter the game of football.

Life is for living, not for living in fear. I wouldn't dream of telling my grandsons that they can't or shouldn't head a football. They could just easily hurt themselves falling off a bike.

[boyyanno]

Surely, even if we are armed with that knowledge, the way to proceed is inform people. Full stop.
We don't tell F1 drivers to slow down because driving fast is dangerous, or that you can only drive fast in the race, but P1 and P2 has a speed limit.

It's not the suggestion that heading the ball can increase dementia, that is ridiculous, rather that armed with even concrete proof, we should alter the game of football.

Life is for living, not for living in fear. I wouldn't dream of telling my grandsons that they can't or shouldn't head a football. They could just easily hurt themselves falling off a bike.

I'm not entirely sure I agree- you'll find in most professions they do everything they can to mitigate risk, I don't want to see football altered but I think if there is concrete proof that this is a cause then there is a responsibility to explore how it can be mitigated.

As a random example just to demonstrate what I mean- let's say they found that by introducing a swimming cap type thing it reduced the chances/problem- it could be a good adaptation. That's obviously a very random/hypothetical example but you get my meaning. You could say the same thing about ball weight/texture. People would undoubtedly complain but these things have also been changed before. I think we have a responsibility to ensure safety as much as we can.

I do agree that there becomes a limit where its not possible to do much more but I'm not sure just saying well that's what happens is enough.

[Jakubclaret]

Surely, even if we are armed with that knowledge, the way to proceed is inform people. Full stop.
We don't tell F1 drivers to slow down because driving fast is dangerous, or that you can only drive fast in the race, but P1 and P2 has a speed limit.

It's not the suggestion that heading the ball can increase dementia, that is ridiculous, rather that armed with even concrete proof, we should alter the game of football.

Life is for living, not for living in fear. I wouldn't dream of telling my grandsons that they can't or shouldn't head a football. They could just easily hurt themselves falling off a bike.

The players would know themselves the risks attached we wouldn't need to inform them they aren't 5 year old children. What I meant with proceeding armed with the knowledge was more to do with risk mitigation & thinking of ways to reduce the likelihood. I even admitted that I couldn't envisage any sort of PPE to aid that cause. It's a tough 1.

[Rileybobs]

Life is for living, not for living in fear. I wouldn't dream of telling my grandsons that they can't or shouldn't head a football. They could just easily hurt themselves falling off a bike.

If your grandchildren are 9 or under they already won’t be allowed to head a ball in organised football, and from next year neither will anyone under 11 years old.

[Colburn_Claret]

They've also banned playing conkers, it doesn't make it right.