Ryan Mason: Heading may not exist in 15 years

[bakajack]

It would make for a fascination evolution of the game. Heading only allowed inside the 18 yard boxes perhaps? Otherwise it would drastically change how teams need to approach taking corners and free kicks

 

[K23]

I guess they’d have to make it an offence to head the ball.

So you’d have free kicks for handball and headball. Would you get sent off for deliberately heading the ball off the line?

Of course you would if it was against the laws of he game. Would have thought that was an obvious consequence of not being allowed to head the ball :roll: :roll: :roll: .

 

[JustJack]

Very interesting - thanks for that. I imagine that helmets, or some form of cushioned protection, are bound to make a positive impact (please pardon the pun), but over the span of a career, not to a safe or "acceptable" level. The footballing governing bodies must be feeling very nervous - if (when?) they take steps, whether reducing, protecting or completely banning heading, it would be a recognition that heading potentially causes injuries. Then, cue law suits which could financially cripple them.

Football governing bodies are looking at the research extensively. The FAW have pretty much removed heading the ball for everyone under 12 and seriously limited it in 14s-16s.

Part of the NFL's problem was they ignored the science. They knew of the issue and did nothing.

And boy did they get hammered (financially) for it.

It sent shockwaves throughout the sporting world, and the main reason why US Soccer banned it for players under the age of 12, is they would not be to afford the eye watering sum that the NFL payed out, should a lawsuit come forward, it would destroy them.

I struggle to see the negatives of removing it from the game, other than, ''tradition innit'

Name other sports where the head is such an active tool in the game? Perhaps that is what makes it unique, that I can understand

 

[JBT95]

It would make for a fascination evolution of the game. Heading only allowed inside the 18 yard boxes perhaps? Otherwise it would drastically change how teams need to approach taking corners and free kicks

I'd guess most headers are in the 18 yard box anyway.

 

[thefranchise]

I struggle to see the negatives of removing it from the game, other than, ''tradition innit'

As someone involved in the decision making process for junior football in Swansea, I'm with you there. All sports evolve through time and football has to move. The links are there and can't be ignored.

I grew up a wrestling fan and there were some major cases of CTE resulting in murder/suicide. During the autopsy they found half the brain was actually dead cells. Obviously an extreme case but NFL players that died of it also displayed violent and erratic behaviour. Anyone who has had to care for a relative with early onset dementia will know of the violent outbursts so it's not the impact of the person but also the risks with family and other people.

The ball is lighter but the game is faster and players are more athletic than ever. Youngsters are specialising earlier and training more in one specific sport more than they did 20 years ago where the risks would have been limited by being involved in sports with less risk too (not rugby, a sport also going through this).

 

[Cardiffjack]

Should boxing outlaw punching ? Should the Tour de France limit racing to only a hour ? Should we stop people climbing mountains ? The world has gone mad