FA to trial banning deliberate heading by children under 12 in England

Deliberate heading could be banned from football for children under 12 in England in two seasons’ time, the Football Association has announced.

The FA has been given approval by football’s law-making body, the International Football Association Board (Ifab), to trial the removal of heading in selected grassroots competitions and leagues which come forward to take part in the coming season. If successful, the FA will apply to Ifab for a law change to remove heading at under-12 level and below from the 2023-24 season.

It follows the introduction of guidance in 2020 which advised coaches against practising heading in training in football for children aged 11 and under, with a graduated introduction of light heading into training from under-12s up to under-16s level. A recommended limit of 10 high-force headers per week in training was also introduced into professional football and the adult grassroots game before the start of last season.

The application for trial is part of the FA’s attempts to mitigate against any potential risks of heading a ball, at a time when research is continuing into the possibility of a link between repeated heading of a ball and neurodegenerative disease. “It represents a cautious approach to playing and enjoying football whilst ongoing research continues in this area,” an FA statement read.

Dawn Astle, the project lead for neurodegenerative diseases in football at the Professional Footballers’ Association, welcomed the trial. “We want all our children to enjoy their football, but they must be able to play safely,” she said. “The proposed new trial to extend the heading guidelines already in place for training to matches is a logical and sensible step.

“Football has a duty of care to continue to