CHILDREN under the age of 11 should avoid heading the ball, according to new advice from Scotland’s youth football governing body.
The Scottish Youth Football Association (SYFA) is advising coaches to remove drills involving headers from training, and also recommends heading “as far as possible, is also eliminated from games”.
The warning follows a recent study by Dr Willie Stewart which suggested former footballers are around three and a half times more likely to die from neurodegenerative disease than the general populations.
Florence Witherow, national secretary of the SYFA, said the body has previously recommended against drills that encourage heading, but following the publication of the research, it has “updated and strengthened” its advice.
She went on: “We would also take this opportunity to remind all of our coaches and officials that if any player, at any age group, is suspected of having a concussion they must immediately cease playing in the game and should not re-join the match.
“Coaches and officials are reminded of NHS advice on concussion and head injury, and should seek immediate medical advice if symptoms continue or worsen, or if a player is suspected of having lost consciousness.”
Witherow said the SYFA will “engage in further discussions” with Stewart and continue to advise the Scottish FA of its recommendations. “Although there is not yet a definitive link between heading the ball and brain injury, it is essential that we take the relevant precautions to best protect our players,” she said.
A ban on heading for under-12s is to be considered by the Scottish Football Association (SFA).
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