In 2015, it was announced that football, or ‘soccer’, was to be changed drastically in the US with a ban implemented on heading the ball among kids aged 10 and under (Daily Mail, 2015).
This was done in a bid to try and reduce concussion, head injuries and even dementia later in life. Despite it being a controversial and surprising move, it has lead to discussion that the UK should follow suit and I, for one, think it would be a sensible move.
In debates like this, especially with it relating to health and injuries, it’s often a clever idea to ask the experts what they believe to be best. Dr Bennet Omalu, an expert in the field of head injuries in sport having discovered the debilitating brain disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in American Football players, believes that heading should be restricted (Independent, 2018).
On top of this, the most-detailed report into football’s dementia link was produced last year and concluded that there is a chance that the condition is linked to heading the football.
In my view, it’s simply too late to change the sport of football to the point where a crucial element of it can be eradicated. Heading has been an important part of the sport for the entirety of its existence; it can’t be changed now.
However, in the early age groups, it can certainly be limited and should be if it means that long-term risks of head injuries can be prevented.
Some have argued in response that the footballing authorities need to “resist scaremongering” and refuse any sort of ban on heading at any age level (South China Morning Post, 2017).
Although it’s understandable that people are reluctant to change, I believe it to be absolutely imperative that we have to put safety first when it comes to young people. Thankfully, it looks as if it really could be happening as well.
It was reported earlier this year by the Telegraph (2018) that Aleksander Ceferin and UEFA were considering banning heading in football youth games if it was proven to cause brain damage; pushing the topic further under the spotlight.
As I said, I think it’s too late to ban heading completely from football but it’s time to come up with a new way of teaching kids the game, without heading, in order to avoid any risks of long-term damage to the brain.
We’ve got to put these young people first.
Reference list
Daily Mail (2015) Heading the ball to be banned for children under the age of 10 in America. Available at: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/sportsnews/article-3312213/Heading-ball-banned-children-age-10-America.html
Independent (2018) Restrict heading in football to prevent risk of dementia like Jeff Astle and Rod Taylor cases, says expert. Available at: https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/dementia-in-football-heading-banned-restricted-stopped-jeff-astle-rod-taylor-deaths-a8482231.html
South China Morning Post (2017) Football must resist calls from scaremongers for heading ban after brain damage study. Available at: https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2071783/football-must-resist-calls-scaremongers-heading-ban-after-brain-damage
Telegraph (2018) Exclusive: Uefa could ban heading in youth games. Available at: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2018/01/27/uefa-could-ban-heading-youth-games/
This was done in a bid to try and reduce concussion, head injuries and even dementia later in life. Despite it being a controversial and surprising move, it has lead to discussion that the UK should follow suit and I, for one, think it would be a sensible move.
In debates like this, especially with it relating to health and injuries, it’s often a clever idea to ask the experts what they believe to be best. Dr Bennet Omalu, an expert in the field of head injuries in sport having discovered the debilitating brain disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in American Football players, believes that heading should be restricted (Independent, 2018).
On top of this, the most-detailed report into football’s dementia link was produced last year and concluded that there is a chance that the condition is linked to heading the football.
In my view, it’s simply too late to change the sport of football to the point where a crucial element of it can be eradicated. Heading has been an important part of the sport for the entirety of its existence; it can’t be changed now.
However, in the early age groups, it can certainly be limited and should be if it means that long-term risks of head injuries can be prevented.
Some have argued in response that the footballing authorities need to “resist scaremongering” and refuse any sort of ban on heading at any age level (South China Morning Post, 2017).
Although it’s understandable that people are reluctant to change, I believe it to be absolutely imperative that we have to put safety first when it comes to young people. Thankfully, it looks as if it really could be happening as well.
It was reported earlier this year by the Telegraph (2018) that Aleksander Ceferin and UEFA were considering banning heading in football youth games if it was proven to cause brain damage; pushing the topic further under the spotlight.
As I said, I think it’s too late to ban heading completely from football but it’s time to come up with a new way of teaching kids the game, without heading, in order to avoid any risks of long-term damage to the brain.
We’ve got to put these young people first.
Reference list
Daily Mail (2015) Heading the ball to be banned for children under the age of 10 in America. Available at: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/sportsnews/article-3312213/Heading-ball-banned-children-age-10-America.html
Independent (2018) Restrict heading in football to prevent risk of dementia like Jeff Astle and Rod Taylor cases, says expert. Available at: https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/dementia-in-football-heading-banned-restricted-stopped-jeff-astle-rod-taylor-deaths-a8482231.html
South China Morning Post (2017) Football must resist calls from scaremongers for heading ban after brain damage study. Available at: https://www.scmp.com/sport/soccer/article/2071783/football-must-resist-calls-scaremongers-heading-ban-after-brain-damage
Telegraph (2018) Exclusive: Uefa could ban heading in youth games. Available at: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2018/01/27/uefa-could-ban-heading-youth-games/
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