FA to ban heading for Under 12s

THE FA will trial a ban on heading in all matches at Under 12 level and below, in a significant step aimed at protecting young players from the dangers of neurodegenerative disease. The FA received permission from the game’s global lawmakers International Football Association Board (IFAB) to introduce the restrictions for the 2022-23 season in england. If successful, the ruling will become permanent from the 2023-24 campaign onward. Heading has been directly linked to dementia with studies involving male footballers suggesting the more a player heads the ball, the likelier he is to develop neurodegenerative disease later in life. Currently primary school children aren’t allowed to practise heading but prior to this trial, they could still use their heads in games. The FA have now decided to take a cautious approach while research continues, feeling it will not change the fabric of the game at youth level. dawn Astle, the daughter of the legendary Jeff, and who now leads the dementia department at the Professional Footballers’ Association, said: ‘We want all our children to enjoy their football but they must be able to play safely.’