The FA (Football Association) updated heading guidance in May 2024 for age groups under 6 and under 18. Although there was no evidence in the field study to suggest that heading the ball was the cause to the link with incidence of degenerative neurocognitive disease, to mitigate against any potential risks, the updated Heading Guidance has been produced in parallel with UEFA’s Medical Committee.

The updated guidelines are designed to help coaches remove repetitive and unnecessary heading from youth football in the earliest years, with a phased introduction at an age group considered most appropriate by medical experts. It is important to reassure that heading is rare in youth football matches, but the guidelines should mitigate any potential risks.

Football England have researched and collected feedback from leagues and clubs taking part in the IFAB trial to remove deliberate heading in grassroots football matches at U12 level and below to see how the experience of the players taking part could be further improved. Their aim is to also create more technical opportunities for players with the ball at their feet, allow for more effective playing time, and to reduce the amount of time the ball is in the air during a match.

Learn more:

Guidance for schools (somerset.gov.uk)
Heading Guidance
FA guidance on heading in football in England | England Football