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Could heading a football ever be banned ?



Leekbrookgull

Well-known member
Jul 14, 2005
16,237
Leek
There has been plenty of media coverage of late regarding a connection between heading a football and long term brain damage/dementia from members of the medical field. Now i believe in junior cricket along with senior cricket batting helmits are mandatory align this with "Duty of Care" (quite what that means in legal and insurance terms could be anyones guess?) therefore could we well see in the future that heading the ball in football is banned ?
 


GT49er

Well-known member
Feb 1, 2009
46,480
Gloucester
I wouldn't rule it out. Certainly it could be limited - allowed only in the penalty area perhaps?

Not advocating that - just thinking possibilities. Of course, the ball's are much lighter these days too - that might be taken into consideration.
 


dangull

Well-known member
Feb 24, 2013
5,105
Doubt it. Modern footballs are lighter now and don't get heavier if soaked with water like the old ones, Jeff Astle era.
 




dazzer6666

Well-known member
NSC Patreon
Mar 27, 2013
52,024
Burgess Hill
There has been plenty of media coverage of late regarding a connection between heading a football and long term brain damage/dementia from members of the medical field. Now i believe in junior cricket along with senior cricket batting helmits are mandatory align this with "Duty of Care" (quite what that means in legal and insurance terms could be anyones guess?) therefore could we well see in the future that heading the ball in football is banned ?

Helmets mandatory for U18s but not adults I think in cricket. Most tend to wear the now as they started playing after this rule came in so it's the norm.......being an old fart I don't usually bother in my occasional turnouts for the third XI

Heading will probably be banned in junior football before too long.
 




Leekbrookgull

Well-known member
Jul 14, 2005
16,237
Leek
I wouldn't rule it out. Certainly it could be limited - allowed only in the penalty area perhaps?

Not advocating that - just thinking possibilities. Of course, the ball's are much lighter these days too - that might be taken into consideration.

What i have noticed over the last few years the growth of 3G pitches for anything from walking football,junior,girls/womens etc,etc and its all based on Pass n Move to feet.
 


beorhthelm

A. Virgo, Football Genius
Jul 21, 2003
35,265
shouldn't do. the studies are finding players with dementure from a generation ago, have evidence of brain injury. its a bit self fulfilling, those with a problem show symptoms leading to a problem. the different weight of balls and general trends in football discourage heading (get the ball on the deck), so this shouldn't go as far as a ban. possibly some improvment in technique will follow.
 


Nixonator

Well-known member
Feb 8, 2016
6,733
Shoreham Beach
They're like beach balls now, would be shocked if scientific findings proved these new generaion of balls caused any long term risk whatsoever.
 




GT49er

Well-known member
Feb 1, 2009
46,480
Gloucester
shouldn't do. the studies are finding players with dementure from a generation ago, have evidence of brain injury. its a bit self fulfilling, those with a problem show symptoms leading to a problem. the different weight of balls and general trends in football discourage heading (get the ball on the deck), so this shouldn't go as far as a ban. possibly some improvment in technique will follow.
The balls are lighter - but in terms of latent energy, they move a lot faster. Might need to be investigated too.
 


Leekbrookgull

Well-known member
Jul 14, 2005
16,237
Leek
That is a very good point in a much as a cross from the right is meet from the left with the header meet full on and if hit correctly into the R/H side of the goal abit like a head on car crash ?
 


trueblue

Well-known member
Jul 5, 2003
10,350
Hove
It's difficult to see how a ban on headers in senior football could be justified when a sport like boxing is allowed to continue. The players are adults and have the freedom to choose whether to play. I suppose repeatedly heading the ball has a cumulative effect? But I'd have thought the most damaging moments are when a ball is drilled into a player's head from close range. The neck muscles aren't ready for that one - and a ban on heading would never take away that risk.
 




The Birdman

New member
Nov 30, 2008
6,313
Haywards Heath
I think rhe balls we use now are much lighter than the old ones the lace would leave a mark on your head and the old style would also pick mud up. Just as we start to win all the balls in the air they want to ban heading.:wozza:
 


Wrong-Direction

Well-known member
Mar 10, 2013
13,395
No

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Wellesley

Well-known member
Jul 24, 2013
4,973
Headbands like Foster or Eric Young would surely be more than adequate with today's balls if anything is needed at all.
 




Albion 4ever

Active member
Feb 26, 2009
568
I believe the football authorities should look at the way head injuries are treated, rather than look at the effects of heading a football that is not used anymore.
Easy example: Emyr Huws (and arguably Bruno) should not have been allowed to continue on Tuesday night. Huws received a blow to the back of the head that needed prolonged treatment and stitches. There is little doubt in my mind that he would have suffered a concussion of some kind. That is a brain injury. He should have been immediately substituted and had 7 days off from training or playing. They do this in rugby. It is yet another thing that they do better than football. You could even change the sub rules in football to allow an extra sub(s) for head injuries.
 


darkwolf666

Well-known member
Nov 8, 2015
7,575
Sittingbourne, Kent
The jury is clearly out on this story at the moment and it is clear that much of the evidence is anecdotal and doesn't take into account other factors like lifestyle, i.e. Smoking and drinking, which many of the old school footballers being cited may have also been affected by. Also no mention is made in regards to genetic factors as highlighted by Alzheimer's Research UK, who say there has to be a balance between possible dangers of sport against the benefits of taking part in sport and physical activity.
 


fosters headband

Well-known member
Aug 15, 2003
5,158
Brighton
When they come up with figures showing how many of the old ladies who suffer or died from dementia, played in central defence or striker in their teens and twenties, I might agree there could be something in it.
They do have figures now that women are at greater risk than men to get the illness, So what sport did they play to bring this on?
 
Last edited:


darkwolf666

Well-known member
Nov 8, 2015
7,575
Sittingbourne, Kent
I believe the football authorities should look at the way head injuries are treated, rather than look at the effects of heading a football that is not used anymore.
Easy example: Emyr Huws (and arguably Bruno) should not have been allowed to continue on Tuesday night. Huws received a blow to the back of the head that needed prolonged treatment and stitches. There is little doubt in my mind that he would have suffered a concussion of some kind. That is a brain injury. He should have been immediately substituted and had 7 days off from training or playing. They do this in rugby. It is yet another thing that they do better than football. You could even change the sub rules in football to allow an extra sub(s) for head injuries.

So you clearly know better than the highly qualified doctors and physios that treat players on and off the pitch, as they obviously missed the obvious concussion you refer to.

As for the subs for head injuries, we all know where that led to in rugby with the "blood gate" saga. Teams could easily take advantage and sub players tactically for a head "injury".
 




FIVESTEPS

Well-known member
Nov 3, 2014
357
In America heading the ball is banned for the U10s and limited in practise for the 11-13 age group.
 


GloryDays

Well-known member
Jul 5, 2011
1,595
Leyton, E10.
I wouldn't rule it out. Certainly it could be limited - allowed only in the penalty area perhaps?

Not advocating that - just thinking possibilities. Of course, the ball's are much lighter these days too - that might be taken into consideration.

And careers are generally shorter now. I think it'll be fine though an interesting argument; if heading became the new handball.

If there's any time heading could be banned or limited maybe it would be <14 age groups, or is that already a thing? I recall being pained and shocked several times playing when I was younger. Partly the ball being like a stone and also bad technique.
 



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