New guidance on Heading in training

SELR_addicks

English football authorities release heading guidance for training for all levels from 2021/22, recommending "maximum of 10 higher force headers in any training week". "Higher force" means "headers following a long pass (more than 35m) or from crosses, corners and free-kicks".

Guidance recommends clubs develop "player profiles that consider gender, age, position, number of headers per match and nature of these headers". Staff encouraged to work with players post-match to ensure "they have adequate time to recover from their heading exposure".

Guidance suggests clubs consider adapting practices. "Evidence suggests lower forces are produced when a ball is thrown to a player rather than kicked, and when a player heads the ball from a standing jump rather than running on to the ball." Guidance via FA, PL, EFL, PFA and LMA

Bullingham (FA) says heading measures "developed following studies with coaches/medics and represent a cautious approach while we learn more. Important to remember the overwhelming medical evidence is that football and other sports have positive impacts on mental/physical health".

Leuth

Stockley and Inniss might as well spend training playing chess eh

Lincsaddick

very sensible

sam3110

May as well sell Stockley now

ShootersHillGuru

I’m not saying it’s the wrong thing but it’s a pointless directive in professional football. No idea what the solution is.

se9addick

sam3110 said:

May as well sell Stockley now

It’s probably the opposite, players who have already developed a high degree of competency in heading are at an advantage compared to younger players who haven’t had that chance and will find it more difficult.

Sensible idea, not certain on the execution but presumably the guidelines will develop over time as we learn more. 

ValleyGary

Is this taken from new research of heading current footballs or the effects it’s having on retired footballers that played with heavy wet pigs bladders? 

Rothko

ValleyGary said:

Is this taken from new research of heading current footballs or the effects it’s having on retired footballers that played with heavy wet pigs bladders? 

Not totally, there's research on how new balls though lighter move a lot faster and do as much and if not more damage because of that 

ricky_otto

We’ll be alright, we haven’t got anybody who can pass directly to a player from 35m. 

eaststandmike

Who is going to keep count when the said player reaches his target of 10?

cafcnick1992

eaststandmike said:

Who is going to keep count when the said player reaches his target of 10?

Roland watching through his private stream