Heading for the end of the hoof?

[Dan Sarf]

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/feb/24/children-under-age-of-12-banned-from-heading-footballs-in-training

"The Scottish Football Association is finalising its plans... a ban on children under the age of 12 from heading could be introduced within weeks... The United States has had similar restrictions in place since 2015..."

As medical evidence emerges, it seems inevitable that, in the not too distant future, the art of heidin' the ba' will disappear from our game. What then? How will tactics change when the nod-down and the Braveheart lunge with the head at corner kicks are banned? And what on earth will our simple-minded neighbours do? Does this mark the beginning of the end; the demise of the HOOF?

[Northernhibee]

Would be the best thing for the Scottish game. Learn positioning, technique, skill and the like. Heading can be taught later on but if technical ability with your feet and positioning is ingrained first then we will have more skilful players.

[Diclonius]

Football without heading would be extraordinary. I'm not opposed to it, though - just means that games will become very different.

[hibbyfraelibby]

What will Hertz do now. Uche certainly doesnt have the fancy footwork skills?

[Unseen work]

The worlds going crazy.

[HUTCHYHIBBY]

The worlds going crazy.

That's why they're trying to get rid of the "heid the baws"! 😉

[Vault Boy]

That's why they're trying to get rid of the "heid the baws"! 😉

:greengrin


Imagine trying to safeguard children from brain injury. Games gone!!!

[jacomo]

Football without heading would be extraordinary. I'm not opposed to it, though - just means that games will become very different.


We are a long way from that. This is just about banning heading for younger kids.

[NAE NOOKIE]

Could be the best thing ever to happen to our game .... In fact the best thing would be to introduce a bar height rule in kids football which would force them and more pertinently their coaches to keep the ball on the deck.

[Onceinawhile]

It's really not going to make much of a difference in terms of people's technique.

Coaches aren't spending hours teaching young kids how to header a ball anyway, so it'll make almost zero difference.

[hibbydog]

Heading the baw didn’t affect me
Heading the baw didn’t affect me
Heading the baw didn’t affect me
Heading the baw didn’t affect me
Heading the baw didn’t affect me

Wibble wibble, whoop, wharp, moooo....

[Scottie]

Can you imagine no winning the Scottish Cup in 2016 cause Sir David headed the ball into the net :dizzy:

[Sudds_1]

Mixed feelings on this...i can see the push to safeguard health etc....but most if not all of the ex players affected played in times of a heavy leather ball...

...todays light plastic coated footballs would seem to offer less risk?

[CapitalGreen]

Mixed feelings on this...i can see the push to safeguard health etc....but most if not all of the ex players affected played in times of a heavy leather ball...

...todays light plastic coated footballs would seem to offer less risk?

Balls are hit harder and move faster now than in the days of the heavy ball.

[Hibby Bairn]

In around 20 years of watching and coaching players up to 12 years old I am struggling to think of any training that involved heading and hardly ever a header during a game. Most kids faced with a ball in the air will shut their eyes and pull back their head towards their shoulders.

So impact re training and playing will be minimal.

Still agree with the change in guidance though.

[HUTCHYHIBBY]

As Jack Nicholson famously once said in a courtroom "You can't handle the hoof"! 😉

With special thanks to Greg Davies.

[Lago]

Football without heading would be extraordinary. I'm not opposed to it, though - just means that games will become very different.
They will not be football.

[Mick O'Rourke]

We are a long way from that. This is just about banning heading for younger kids.

I welcome this decision
The kids will be allowed to head in games. just not in training.

The incidents we have seen in recent years of older retired players having diseases related to the brain are so many.

The ball in the old days could massively increase in weight during games .
Particularly on rainy days.
It became like a cannonball.
And it hurt Adult and child alike.
.
I knew and still know a couple of players who are afflicted with vascular dementia.
One a defender the other a striker

The decision ,until our medical experts learn more, is sensible in my view.
.

[Eyrie]

They will not be football.

Surely it will be football, as it will no longer be headball? :confused:

[Geo_1875]

In around 20 years of watching and coaching players up to 12 years old I am struggling to think of any training that involved heading and hardly ever a header during a game. Most kids faced with a ball in the air will shut their eyes and pull back their head towards their shoulders.

So impact re training and playing will be minimal.

Still agree with the change in guidance though.

We played 5s & 7s with shoulder height rule back in late 60s & early 70s. Learned far more with the ball on the ground. The dirty stuff came later.

[Speedy]

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/feb/24/children-under-age-of-12-banned-from-heading-footballs-in-training

"The Scottish Football Association is finalising its plans... a ban on children under the age of 12 from heading could be introduced within weeks... The United States has had similar restrictions in place since 2015..."

As medical evidence emerges, it seems inevitable that, in the not too distant future, the art of heidin' the ba' will disappear from our game. What then? How will tactics change when the nod-down and the Braveheart lunge with the head at corner kicks are banned? And what on earth will our simple-minded neighbours do? Does this mark the beginning of the end; the demise of the HOOF?

Funnily enough, my first thought was that it could lead to more hoofball. It'll be harder to defend against.

[Dan Sarf]

Funnily enough, my first thought was that it could lead to more hoofball. It'll be harder to defend against.

Good point. Defenders won't be able to head the ball to safety. Then again, won't attackers have to duck when the hoofball comes flying in? (We've had a few who were good at that!)

Presumably, it'll make life easier for keepers though.

[Geo_1875]

Funnily enough, my first thought was that it could lead to more hoofball. It'll be harder to defend against.

How is this to be enforced in matches? Is it only deliberately heading the ball that will be penalised?

[Haymaker]

How is this to be enforced in matches? Is it only deliberately heading the ball that will be penalised?

A headed ball results in an indirect free kick in the US.

[wpj]

My dad died of vascular dementia, there were many factors not football related but surgery related but he once scored 4 goals in a 2-2 draw and had no memory of it after a nasty knock to the head.

[where'stheslope]

We could go down the lines of some kind of headwear to protect the skull?
The players who are now having dementia problems were used to playing with the old heavy leather ball that soaked up water.
Nowadays its a far lighter ball that does not retain water, so to my thinking its closing the barn door after the horses have bolted!!!!

[Onceinawhile]

How is this to be enforced in matches? Is it only deliberately heading the ball that will be penalised?

Heading in matches will still be OK as far as I'm aware.

[silverhibee]

A headed ball results in an indirect free kick in the US.

Does this not encourage folk playing football to control it on there chest rather than heading it, I take it the kids are told not to kick the ball in the air and keep it on the deck in USA.

[Dan Sarf]

Heading in matches will still be OK as far as I'm aware.


True. But for how much longer?

[Haymaker]

Does this not encourage folk playing football to control it on there chest rather than heading it, I take it the kids are told not to kick the ball in the air and keep it on the deck in USA.

Well my teams do.

I still see a lot of drop kicks, big hoofs etc by other teams. Mostly I think because they think kids will duck out the way.

[hibby rae]

We could go down the lines of some kind of headwear to protect the skull?
The players who are now having dementia problems were used to playing with the old heavy leather ball that soaked up water.
Nowadays its a far lighter ball that does not retain water, so to my thinking its closing the barn door after the horses have bolted!!!!

Balls today are lighter which means more velocity. The danger is still just the same as before.