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Trial on banning heading in football games up to under-12s being trialled across the country including in the North Kent Youth League

The youth football season is barely a month old but some of the county's youngsters are - literally - trying to get their head around a new rule.

Teams playing in the North Kent Youth League are part of a nationwide trial which has banned heading in football games at age groups up to and including under-12s.

There are growing fears that regular heading of a ball increases the risk of footballers developing dementia.

A similar ban has been in place in the United States since 2015.

"It's important to point out that it's a trial at the moment," explained Toby Elgar, the Kent FA's Football Development Officer for youth and mini football.

"The FA have brought in this trial for the 2022/23 season for under-12 football and below. This is following the FA introducing heading guidance in 2021 which advised that heading shouldn't take place in the same age groups.

"The aim of this trial is to see if the removing of heading is successful and therefore (potentially) bringing it in across all competitions at under-12 below for the 2023/24 season."

Dementia in football is not a new issue. Former West Brom and England player Jeff Astle died in 2002 at the age of 59, having been diagnosed with early onset dementia.

"I think there's still lots of unknowns and that's one of the reasons why the FA have brought in this trial," added Elgar.

"You see stories now of footballers that are suffering many years later with head-related injuries or issues later in life.

"The quality of footballs and weight of footballs has changed over time but there's still lots of unknowns. If we can remove that risk of heading a ball while children are young and their brains and heads are still developing, it's important to minimise the risk they face when

Read more on kentonline.co.uk