The State of Regulation in Children and Youth Football Covers Three Authoritative Implementation Guidelines For Informed Coaches and Players [Limiting the Number of Headers, Style of Heading, and Frequency of Session Can Improve Health Outcomes]

1. The State of Regulation in
Children and Youth
Football
Three Authoritative Implementation Guidelines
For Informed Coaches and Players
Limiting the Number of Headers, Style of Heading, and
Frequency of Session Can Improve Health Outcomes
1
Safia Fatima Mohiuddin, Researcher and Scientific Writer

2. Lancs Live World News, 2022
- In 2020, limit of 10 high force
headers per week was advised in
training in response to research
links between repeated heading
and neurodegeneration
- IFAB advised coaches in 2020
against heading training in
under 11s and “graduated
introduction to light heading” in
under 12s to under 16s
- Under 12s in England
banned from deliberately
heading the ball
- IFAB will mediate rule
change from 2023 - 2024
season
2
[1] All professional football training clubs could
conduct a training limiting “high force headers” to
10 per week during training (Professional
Footballers Association).

3. “We want our children to enjoy their football but they must be
able to play safely.”
“The proposed trial to extend the heading guidelines already in
place for training to matches is a logical and sensible step.”
“Going into 2022-2023 season, all professional clubs must
incorporate appropriate heading guidelines into their training
regimes. Their responsibility extends to youth, womens, and
mens teams.”
- Dawn Astle, Project Lead for Neurodegenerative Diseases in
Football at Professional Footballers Association
3

4. - Research evidence indicates
link between concussions,
blows to head, and long-term
brain injuries
- NFHS on illegal blindside
blocks: A defender pursuing a
ball carrier may be blocked,
but block with excessive
violence will result in personal
foul penalty against blocker
- Violent, intentional hits
result in blocker
disqualification from
remainder of the game
- Legal blocks is with hands
or with arms, not shoulder or
helmet; contact is initiated
from front or side, not back
CMA Law on Youth Football Injuries
4
[2]California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) and
National Federation of State and High School
Associations (NFHS) advises coaches to work with
players on proper blocking technique to reduce
injury likelihood.

5. - No heading in primary
school children; focus is on
fun, engagement, and
mastering the ball; passing,
dribbling, and movement is
encouraged
- 9s to 11s: No heading in
training sessions; focus is on
fun and basic game
principles
- Graduated heading
approach for 12s;
heading is not
recommended but
low-priority heading
may be introduced on
coach discretion; use of
lightweight balls;
always unopposed
heading; maximum 5
headers per session with
self-serves or
sort-distance serves
Scottish Football Association Guidelines
5
[3] Scottish Football Association Advises “No
Heading” for younger children and “Low priority
heading” for youth.

6. - Low priority heading for 13s
- 1 session per week limiting
5 headers per player per
session; use of variety of
distances relative to game;
use of lowest pressure balls
authorized by laws of the
game; encourage style of
play limiting number of
longer, higher passes
- Low priority heading
for 14s and 15s; heading
practice not more than
one session per week;
headers limited to 10
per player per session;
use of lowest pressure
balls authorized by
game
Scottish Football Association Guidelines
6
[3] Scottish Football Association Advises “No
Heading” for younger children and “Low priority
heading” for youth.

7. - In 16s and 17s, limit heading
sessions to once per week; use
variety of heading situations
players may experience; coaches
vigilant about number of
repetitions during a training
session; use of lowest pressure
balls authorized by game rules;
coaches encourage style of play
limiting longer, higher passes
- When n doubt about
concussion, player
removal advised -
“If in Doubt, Sit Them
Out”
- No one Returns to
Sport (RTS) with
suspected concussion
Scottish Football Association Guidelines
7
[3] Scottish Football Association Advises “No
Heading” for younger children and “Low priority
heading” for youth.

8. “The brain develops until it is 23, and it is the front part
of the brain that is absorbing those blows. It gets
completely rebuilt between the age of 14 and the early
20s.”
“I don’t think you can maintain any more than there is
nothing going on.”
- Dr. Magdalena Ietswaart, Cognitive Neuroscientist,
University of Stirling
8

9. https://www.lancs.live/news/uk-world-news/football-rul
e-change-could-see-24522729
https://www.cmalaw.net/rule-changes-in-high-school-f
ootball-look-to-decrease-head.html
https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/football-development/part
icipation/childrens-youth-football/heading/
http://telegraph.co.uk/football/2022/07/18/heading-b
anned-under-12s-landmark-english-football-trial
References
9