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Ban Children from heading football

Don't know who this guy is, guessing he is american.

bbc.co.uk/sport/football/25362744

A leading campaigner on head injuries in sport has called for a ban on children heading the ball when playing football.
Chris Nowinski is a former professional wrestler and suffered from concussion because of regular blows to the head when playing college American football.
Nowinski told BBC Radio 5 live: "In football, introduce heading at a later age."
He also said that children should not be allowed to play contact sports.
He added: "If we have so many other options out there, like we get them running and being active, why play sports which include hundreds of blows to the head, knowing how bad the consequences are?
"It's much smarter to do it when they're teenagers and in their 20s when the brain is more developed and there are medical people on the sidelines during games.
"We can still play those games without contact but who thinks it's a good idea to hit a 10-year-old in the head 200 or 300 times a season?"
Nowinski suffered a serious concussion in June 2003, but due to a lack of understanding about his symptoms, he continued to wrestle and work out for five weeks while symptomatic.
He developed post-concussion syndrome and was forced to retire.
Since then, he has co-founded the Sports Legacy Institute (SLI), a non-profit organisation dedicated to studying sports concussion through education, policy, and research.
Nowinski added that the concussion doctor who treated him said "no sport should have repetitive brain trauma and tolerate it before they reach high school, age 14".
He said: "A new study came out in the US two days ago showing repetitive brain trauma is still causing brain damage.
"Based on all this research, we know we're giving some of those kids a chance of brain damage because we choose to introduce contact so young."
Nowinski adds that children need to be better educated about the symptoms of concussion.
He said: "Why not make it as safe as we can, as long as entertainment value is there? We have to consider most of the people playing that sport are children.
"By definition they do not have informed consent and they do not have physical maturity, but most are playing the same sport, by the same rules with same dangers. In that respect it's idiotic.
"Study after study will tell you that athletes don't report when they have concussion and try to play through to be a hero - but they don't realise they have a concussion as no one has sat them down and explained what it is."
Dr Martin Raftery, the International Rugby Board's (IRB) chief medical officer, is in favour of implementing safety measures, rather than banning youngsters from playing sport.
"In our sport, what we're doing is trying to protect the athlete where there is a risk," he said.
Rugby's new guidelines say a player suspected of suffering from concussion must leave the field for a medical inspection and can only return if cleared of the injury.
Previously, any player suspected of suffering from concussion had to leave the pitch and take a week off, a period already reduced from three weeks under an earlier rule.
In October, Tottenham were described as "irresponsible" by brain injury charity Headway for allowing goalkeeper Hugo Lloris to play on against Everton after losing consciousness.
But Headway spokesman Luke Griggs said that banning children from heading in football was not the answer.
Griggs told BBC Sport: "For us, the key is not being as drastic as to ban children from contact sport. It's more about improving awareness among coaches, referees and, importantly, parents. A minor injury can have consequences so it's about dealing with them immediately, so we need to raise awareness.
"There is limited research which shows the danger of heading and it will need more research before we contemplate supporting that. There is merit in what Chris says, but banning kids is not the way forward. It's about awareness."
The Football Association declined to comment. However, England's governing body use size three balls until Under 15 level, when size five balls are introduced.

Comments

  • Didn't do Jeff Astle much good in the 60's/70's, but he was heading the equivalent of a medicine ball.
  • I doubt concussion is much of a worry with regards to heading a football (perhaps with the exception of someone smashing the ball and some form of headed attempt at a clearance) - the only real risk is going to be when two players go for it and collide with each other.

    This guy has come from a different sport; and I get the impression that he's extrapolating results from a study based around a different sport, and trying to shoehorn them elsewhere. Not quite how research works..

    It stands to reason that multiple head injuries are going to cause long term issues, that's common sense. To suggest the answer is to not allow kids to take part till they're 14 is incredibly short-sighted though. He suggests alternatives such as running: if we're going to approach running with the same point of view then the impact on the knees at such a young age probably isn't going to be very nice when their older either. Everything has risks; it's about minimising those risks though.

    However, to steer the subject back to the "What's wrong with English football?" thread: if you prevented players from heading the ball till they were 14 then surely this could indeed reinforce "playing on the deck" to younger children, right?
  • edited December 2013
    My sons school have banned football with a proper ball. They're not even allowed one of those plastic ones. They have to kick a sponge ball about.
  • lol I remember those ridiculous sponge balls.
  • I discussed this a few years back with my American aunt. She raised the subject of how dangerous "soccer" was for children because of heading the ball. I disagreed on the basis that we would surely have come to that conclusion in England and elsewhere if it were true.

    I think she was being swayed, as LR alludes to, by the problem that US sports have with soccer. Its the big enemy to them and they do and say anything to try to knock it back.

    Regardless, from experience of watching my son, kids do not like heading a football until they get into their teens.
  • Thought that this was going to be about trying to improve style of football at youth levels
  • I was centre back and captain for my school team. I played Saturday and Sundays and used to take goal kicks for the goal keepers in the teams I played for because i was regarded as having strong and sweet strike of the ball. Being a centre back came with its downfall like having to head a ball when the opposing keeping would punt it to the centre circle. I am 43 now and remember those days following a weekend of football when I suffered continous headaches. I would even finish some games feeling dizzy. I hated having to head the ball as a youngster but the coaches at that time would insist that I head the ball despite the fact that I could easily trap it with me feet. It is of no surprise now why I believe I suffer from some short term memory loss.
  • edited December 2013
    But Headway spokesman Luke Griggs said that banning children from heading in football was not the answer.
    Griggs told BBC Sport: "For us, the key is not being as drastic as to ban children from contact sport. It's more about improving awareness among coaches, referees and, importantly, parents. A minor injury can have consequences so it's about dealing with them immediately, so we need to raise awareness.
    "There is limited research which shows the danger of heading and it will need more research before we contemplate supporting that. There is merit in what Chris says, but banning kids is not the way forward. It's about awareness."

    I think that a proper study of this should be carried out by both the medical and sporting bodies to come to a conclusive answer to this before people take this as a conclusive bit of research. No one wants to see young people being stopped from enjoying sport, least of all myself who spent over 15 years as a junior league manager, and Kent manager until last year. In fact the great majority of my sons team are still playing in the Saturday league today. Football is a contact sport, and the clubs that I have been involved with do not practice heading until secondary school. I agree about keeping the ball on the deck, my concern is that this could cause kids and parents not to participate in football at whatever level. When I started managing it was popular to say that it should not be competitive, I do not mean elite, but children enjoying football, getting a level of fitness, and learning to be part of the team. We started at the c division in the Bexley league and managed after a few seasons to get to Kent level. You do get the occasional team that takes it too seriously, but especially at primary level it has to be about enjoyment, and learning, or trying to learn. I played to win, but not at any cost. The five a side competitions were especially enjoyable, where heading obviously does not take a part in this. I could be convinced, but would want to know far more about the evidence, and the proposals about the game for youngsters.
  • all sports that involve heading, catching, bashing and kicking a ball as well as strong physical contact are inherently dangerous and the consequences may not appear until late in life.
    It should be up to the child and their parents to decide whether they want to get involved in contact sports. At the least, the potential pitfalls should be pointed out. I would be in favour of at least annual medical check ups for all youngsters who take part in contact sports.
  • i think its an interesting idea, the rest of what he says is a load of malarkey though tbh. Would get children playing with their feet and keeping the ball on the floor.
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  • for real ?
    Off_it said:

    My sons school have banned football with a proper ball. They're not even allowed one of those plastic ones. They have to kick a sponge ball about.

  • You have to teach children how to head the ball correctly anyway otherwise it could lead to more injuries.
  • lol I remember those ridiculous sponge balls.

    Remember when you'd be through on goal only to inedvertedly stand on the ball? Or when it had been raining and you'd kick the ball and spray water everywhere? Good times.

  • Off_it said:

    My sons school have banned football with a proper ball. They're not even allowed one of those plastic ones. They have to kick a sponge ball about.

    You serious Offy??
  • Jayajosh said:

    I was centre back and captain for my school team. I played Saturday and Sundays and used to take goal kicks for the goal keepers in the teams I played for because i was regarded as having strong and sweet strike of the ball. Being a centre back came with its downfall like having to head a ball when the opposing keeping would punt it to the centre circle. I am 43 now and remember those days following a weekend of football when I suffered continous headaches. I would even finish some games feeling dizzy. I hated having to head the ball as a youngster but the coaches at that time would insist that I head the ball despite the fact that I could easily trap it with me feet. It is of no surprise now why I believe I suffer from some short term memory loss.

    I would suggest your technique was not quite the best.
  • Used to love heading the ball when I played. I was small for my age and I played out on the wing, so no-one expected me to be able to get my head on it but I caused a lot of trouble to teams when the ball was up in the air. It's all about technique. Sometimes when you get it wrong and hit the ball with the top of your head it's painful but if you head it right you don't feel a thing. Banning it would be insane.
  • Riviera said:

    Jayajosh said:

    I was centre back and captain for my school team. I played Saturday and Sundays and used to take goal kicks for the goal keepers in the teams I played for because i was regarded as having strong and sweet strike of the ball. Being a centre back came with its downfall like having to head a ball when the opposing keeping would punt it to the centre circle. I am 43 now and remember those days following a weekend of football when I suffered continous headaches. I would even finish some games feeling dizzy. I hated having to head the ball as a youngster but the coaches at that time would insist that I head the ball despite the fact that I could easily trap it with me feet. It is of no surprise now why I believe I suffer from some short term memory loss.

    I would suggest your technique was not quite the best.
    Would head the ball I'd say more than 10 times every match, full size Mitre swirling around in the wind and rain coming at a 9 year old at 50 mph. It is a contact sport, you don't get free headers when you got players backing into you. You never played the game it seems.
  • shine166 said:

    for real ?


    Off_it said:

    My sons school have banned football with a proper ball. They're not even allowed one of those plastic ones. They have to kick a sponge ball about.

    Off_it said:

    My sons school have banned football with a proper ball. They're not even allowed one of those plastic ones. They have to kick a sponge ball about.

    You serious Offy??
    Yep, straight up. They are only allowed to play with one of them sponge things that don't make a noise and you keep standing on and turning your ankle!
  • I never liked heading the ball when I was young but to put a ban on it is madness!
  • edited December 2013
    They should try heading the laced up, dubbined circular boulders we used when I was young!

    They absorbed mud and water. Get one of those on top of your bonce at pace and you'd see stars....
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  • The only person I know of who's been damaged by heading a ball is Jeff Astle. Surely, if there was any real danger we'd know of more people who'd come off badly. Personally I'd be far more concerned if my kids decided they wanted to take up running as I know several pavement pounders who've wrecked their knees.
  • Jayajosh said:

    I am 43 now and remember those days following a weekend of football when I suffered continous headaches. I would even finish some games feeling dizzy. I hated having to head the ball as a youngster but the coaches at that time would insist that I head the ball despite the fact that I could easily trap it with me feet. It is of no surprise now why I believe I suffer from some short term memory loss.

    Years ago, I had the same and sometimes double vision. A heavier ball (I'm not talking leather with lace but more Addidas Tango) but my technique wasn't right. These days the ball is so light and I've learnt to keep my eyes right on it and I'm heading it like Micky Droy! I'm full of admiration for all of those old centre-halves....they were all SO powerful in the air.
  • Stig said:

    The only person I know of who's been damaged by heading a ball is Jeff Astle. Surely, if there was any real danger we'd know of more people who'd come off badly. Personally I'd be far more concerned if my kids decided they wanted to take up running as I know several pavement pounders who've wrecked their knees.

    A lot of ex centre halves are now suffering from Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia.

    There may or may not be a correlation.
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