FAI to ban heading for footballers under 12
THE FAI is set to follow the example of the English FA by banning children from heading footballs.
The English FA yesterday announced heading restrictions for kids, aimed at reducing the possibility of brain damage later in life.
It applies across the Scottish FA, FA of Wales, and Irish Football Association. Under new training recommendations, children between seven and 11 should not head a ball at all.
At Under-12 level, they may be permitted one heading session per month, with a maximum of five headers.
From U14 to U16 level, the FA state that ‘heading remains a low priority’ with no more than one session, and a limit of ten headers, a week. Stepping up to U18 ranks, the FA stress that ‘heading drills should be reduced as far as possible, taking into consideration the heading exposure in matches.’
In response, FAI deputy CEO Niall Quinn confirmed the Association ‘will monitor the effect of the new ruling in the UK’.
‘We are in communication with the football authorities in the UK and with UEFA on this issue.
‘The health and safety of our schoolboys and schoolgirls is paramount and we note the decision taken in Northern Ireland, Scotland and England to ban heading in training for players up to 12 years.
‘Our underage players already play with a lighter ball depending on their age and we will continue to assess developments across Europe on an ongoing basis.’
As part of the Player Development Plan launched in 2015, children in Ireland play with footballs which are weighted dependent on their age. Up to U8s, players play with a size-5 ball weighing 290-grams, rising to 450-grams for U15s.
Studies have shown a definitive link between brain conditions, such as the early onset of Alzheimer’s Disease, through the excessive heading of footballs. The rules have been introduced in the UK following a University of Glasgow study, published in October last year.
Dr Willie Stewart, the consultant neuropathologist who led the study, was encouraged by the changes and said: ‘A lot more research is needed to understand the factors contributing to increased risk of neurodegenerative disease in footballers. Meanwhile, it is sensible to act to reduce exposure to the only recognised risk factor so far.’
However, Dr Stewart added that he would like to see the measures adopted by the wider game.
‘This is a start but we also need to think about adult football,’ he said. ‘There are instances where professional footballers head the ball hundreds of times a week. Is it really necessary for that to be in three figures to allow someone to score on a Saturday afternoon?’
Sportsmail columnist Chris Sutton, whose father Mike — a former player — is suffering from a degenerative disease caused by repetitive brain trauma, said: ‘This is hopefully just the start. Nobody is calling for a heading ban in the senior game, just sensible measures which should be introduced.’
FA chief executive Mark Bullingham said: ‘This guidance will help coaches and teachers reduce and remove repetitive and unnecessary heading from youth football. Our research has shown heading is rare in youth matches, so this guidance is a responsible development.’