No heading allowed to kick the soccer ball with their head

The English Football Federation has decided to prohibit children under 12 from heading the ball during training. The organization recommends that coaches in youth football remove heading exercises from their routine for under-7, under-8, under-9, under-10, and under-11 teams.

A study conducted by the University of Glasgow has shown that football players are more than three times more likely to develop diseases such as dementia, Alzheimer's, or Parkinson's.

However, does heading a ball at that age have such an impact? Well, it hasn't been proven. What is dangerous, though, is the risk of a concussion. This applies to both children and adults.

The measure has been approved in conjunction with the UEFA Medical Committee and, although initially it is only prohibited for ages 6 to 11, heading will gradually be introduced for youths aged 12 to 16. However, this prohibition will not apply to matches in either case.

It is worth noting that what is important, more than avoiding that impact, is knowing when there is a head injury and taking action. Symptoms include dizziness, slow thinking, and, most notably, fainting.