Should children be "banned from heading footballs"?

[Pakenhamtrain]

However a definite no to any form of headgear. They don't work in reducing brain impact. I've seen a player wearing a head guard take an accidental head hit in rugby training. She looked fine, was removed from play and within 20 minutes she didn't know where she was. This was a couple of years ago and she now has no recollection of what happened.

If anything helmets provide a false sense of security.

Down here in Aussie rules a player on the team I support had his 8th concussion wearing a helmet. He's the walking poster boy for concussion in the modern game.
https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/af...m/news-story/ec16af9ed9725211b04c389c19df9493
If he ever plays another game of AFL again it will be a miracle.

 

[MidlandsChap]

Under 12 surely it would make more sense to use a lighter ball. Heading is a significant part of football. At the younger age groups they use lighter balls for hockey and cricket so the same logic could easily apply.

 

[MidlandsChap]

It's also an adult's informed choice if they head the ball or not. You don't have to.

You do if you are a professional footballer, which is the group of people the study is based on.

 

[Journeyman]

Seems like a sensible move to me, especially in a litigious society like the one we live in now.

Look at the damage we now know boxing can do.

 

[Howardh]

Seems like a sensible move to me, especially in a litigious society like the one we live in now.
Look at the damage we now know boxing can do.

I'm amazed boxing is still legal, or at least simply blows to the body and not the head.
As for football, when I played i hated heading, it was painful and horrible and I can't work out why some players WANT to do it!!

 

[AlterEgo]

I'm amazed boxing is still legal, or at least simply blows to the body and not the head.
As for football, when I played i hated heading, it was painful and horrible and I can't work out why some players WANT to do it!!

Did you play when the balls were absorbent leather with laces?

Heading a modern ball is painless with proper technique but the old one with the laces is like a cannonball.

 

[Bletchleyite]

You do if you are a professional footballer, which is the group of people the study is based on.

True, though most people aren't professional footballers and have no interest in being so.

Whereas most kids (without disabilities) are actually forced to play football at school at some point or other.