Deliberate heading is to be banned in matches at under-11 level and below in England, the Football Association has confirmed, as it continues a process of “reviewing and improving the safety of our game”.
Heading will be phased out from games involving children of primary school age over the next three years, a move that follows a two-year trial period. Deliberate headers will become an offence punishable with a free-kick and there will also be an end to throw-ins, with the traditional restart replaced by “pass-in/dribble-ins”.
“After two seasons of the Ifab [International Football Association Board] trial in English football, we will now introduce a new rule to phase out deliberate heading in matches in all affiliated grassroots youth football between U7-U11 level over the next three seasons,” an FA statement read.
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“We adopted the Ifab trial to help reduce any potential risk factors that may be linked to heading the ball, including injuries from head to head, elbow to head, or head to ground contact.
“The gradual introduction of the new rule over the next three seasons will support the players’ journey as they adapt from deliberately heading the ball in grassroots youth football matches. It has been decided that as grassroots players move from primary to secondary school, heading the ball will be introduced at this natural transition point in their U12 season.”
Although an increase in safety is the driving force behind the change, the FA sees an opportunity to further develop children’s skills with the ball at their feet. “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.
The phased implementation will start with the youngest age groups. From next season matches involving under-sevens to under-nines will see deliberate headers punished with an indirect free-kick. Deliberate headers in a player’s own penalty area will lead to a free-kick being awarded “from the nearest side line of the penalty area where the offence took place”.
As for restarts, pass-in/dribble-ins will replace throw-ins and players will be able to restart play and continue with the ball without requiring a touch from a teammate. A goal cannot be scored directly from a pass-in, however. These changes will be extended to under-10s in 2025-26 and under-11s in 2026-27.
The brain injury charity Headway welcomed the move regarding heading. Its chief executive, Luke Griggs, said: “The FA is demonstrating a commitment to safeguarding the future of the sport. It’s vital that football continues to evolve and adapt in line with emerging evidence in order to safeguard the brain health of professional and amateur players.”
