This post has already been read 1479 times!
There will be no disciplinary sanction for a deliberate header in a match, unless considered a persistent deliberate offence
The Football Association is to introduce a new rule to phase out deliberate heading in grassroots youth matches across England.
It will cover all leagues, clubs and any affiliated school matches, and will phase heading out for all games at under-11 level and below over the next three seasons.
The introduction of the rule follows a two-season International Football Association Board (Ifab) trial.
It will cover all under-seven to under-nine matches from the 2024-25 campaign, before expanding to include under-10 level from 2025-26 and under-11s the following season.
Research commissioned by the FA last year found former professional footballers are almost three-and-a-half times more likely to be diagnosed with dementia than the general population.
Deliberately heading the ball will result in an indirect free-kick being awarded to the opposing team.
The indirect free-kick will be taken at the point where the ball was deliberately headed, or, if deliberately headed in the penalty area, the game will restart from the nearest sideline of the penalty area.
New study shows increased dementia risk in football
How does a match with 'no heading' work?
Should football ban heading?
The FA said about 16,000 teams and 107,000 players participated in the Ifab trial, launched in 2022.
"Our 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," the FA said.
In 2021, it was recommended professional footballers in England should be limited to 10 "higher force headers" a week in training.
Listen to the latest Football Daily podcast
Get football news sent straight to your phone
Comments can not be loaded
To load Comments you need to enable JavaScript in your browser
Liverpool job 'difficult to ignore' – Slot
England's Euro 2024 squad – Southgate's big decisions
'The Valhalla nail-biter that had everything'
A violent criminal conflict turns personal
A dark, fresh take on Ian Rankin's iconic character, starring Richard Rankin
'I felt like we became some sort of an ambassador'
The story of a heavy metal band in Iraq during the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein
Can Chris stay on the straight and narrow?
Watch the new series of the gripping crime drama The Responder, starring Martin Freeman
A life coaching company that has shattered lives
Journalist Catrin Nye exposes control, intimidation and fear within a mysterious organisation
End-of-season Premier League awards – vote now
Key questions in Clarke's Scotland squad selection
All you need to know about the Paralympics with 100 days to go
Who is the best Premier League manager ever?
The areas England must improve to take Australia's T20 crown
How does French Open affect Olympic qualification?
Guardiola turns Man City into PL's great untouchables
Ian Wright's emotional Match of the Day montage. Video
Watch dressing room scenes as Manchester City celebrate title Video
Anfield awash with emotion as Klopp says farewell
'Magnificent, unplayable' – Shearer and Wright on Foden. Video
'All-round mastermind Usyk reaches boxing's summit'
WSL title perfect end to Hayes' unique story
Usyk's epic victory over Fury in 10 pictures
Five goals, Hart's farewell & Santa – how Celtic's trophy day unfolded
How well do you remember this season's Premier League?
Black, white and shades of grey – what's behind sprint's race divide?
© 2024 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.
