Install the app
How to install the app on iOS

Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.

Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.

  • Participation within this subforum is only available to members who have had 5+ posts approved elsewhere.

Phasing out Heading from Football - Yay or Nay?

Should heading be phased out of football?

  • No

    Votes: 6 9.2%

  • NOOOOOOOO

    Votes: 59 90.8%
  • Total voters
    65
Status
Not open for further replies.
Indeed, the FA has a concussion protocol that kinda does that

www.thefa.com

Guidelines for managing concussion

Please head to https://www.englandfootball.com/participate/learn/Brain-Health for more details
www.thefa.com www.thefa.com

Is that somehow destroying the game?

“The paramount priority for The FA is player safety, and so the publication of these concussion guidelines is integral to achieving an unprecedented high level of care and safety for players at all levels.
Click to expand...
 
Bruce Wayne said:
As I said above though, you're not going to get people individually saying "I'm not going to head the ball, thanks very much...", it would take a collective change across the entire sport, like we've seen with rugby. If it was down to the clubs to not play players for a bit after any concussion then it would never happen because no player is going to volunteer for that.
Click to expand...
I have no idea what Rugby are doing, but I doubt they are changing the whole game, which is what removing heading in football would do.
 
Bruce Wayne said:
Indeed, the FA has a concussion protocol that kinda does that

www.thefa.com

Guidelines for managing concussion

Please head to https://www.englandfootball.com/participate/learn/Brain-Health for more details
www.thefa.com www.thefa.com

Is that somehow destroying the game?
Click to expand...
The thread title is phasing out heading Bruce.

Changes to the concussion rule, educating the players and taking precations are all welcome additions, phasing out heading is not.
 

Bruce Wayne said:
What, so Everton's doctor is going to tell Keane not to head the ball because he might get dementia when he's no longer employed by the club? I can't see it somehow.
Click to expand...
No, but;
1. He can advise him of the risks
2. He can advise him on early symptoms
3. He can make sure that he is fully aware of all the research and recommend some further reading
4. The player can then make a fully informed choice.

One of the reasons a ban is being discussed is the realisation that, given a fully informed choice, most footballers would choose to carry on heading imo.
 
Alan Whittle said:
No, but;
1. He can advise him of the risks
2. He can advise him on early symptoms
3. He can make sure that he is fully aware of all the research and recommend some further reading
4. The player can then make a fully informed choice.

One of the reasons a ban is being discussed is the realisation that, given a fully informed choice, most footballers would choose to carry on heading imo.
Click to expand...
Well yes, quite. I very much doubt any footballer would choose not to do so of their own accord, whether due to wanting to help their team, to keep a wage coming in, or even discounting the future costs. If something is to be done then it needs to be introduced into the rules of the game.
 
MikelsGoat said:
Im sure footballers have issues with their knees and feet as they get older also, lets ban kicking the football as well.
Click to expand...
That's a silly argument Goat. No one complains about wearing a seat belt or that air bags destroy the driving experience, but both make driving safer to do. I don't need our players ballsing their brains up for my entertainment.
 

Bruce Wayne said:
That's a silly argument Goat. No one complains about wearing a seat belt or that air bags destroy the driving experience, but both make driving safer to do. I don't need our players ballsing their brains up for my entertainment.
Click to expand...
Using a seat belt or a car with an airbag does not change how I drive my car Bruce.

Now imagine they said "Turning right is dangerous" and banned people from turning right, would that change how you drive?
 
Bruce Wayne said:
Well yes, quite. I very much doubt any footballer would choose not to do so of their own accord, whether due to wanting to help their team, to keep a wage coming in, or even discounting the future costs. If something is to be done then it needs to be introduced into the rules of the game.
Click to expand...
Free kicks and penalties for head ball?
 
For instance, this paper looks at the use of the kind of skull caps Petr Cech wore in the 2nd half of his career, and they seem to reduce the impact significantly.


One of these could be mandated, as an example. Then you can knock yourself out heading the ball

headGuard_newLogo_1024x1024.png
 
Bruce Wayne said:
Not sure what point you're making? That because footballers aren't eaten by lions it's okay that so many develop brain issues later in life? That's just an occupational hazard and we should carry on regardless?
Click to expand...

As per @MikelsGoat boxing carries a risk - a much bigger one, but people still do it. Any kind of motorsport, or anything to do with horses and we could go on. Kids play football in the park for the fun of it and will still head balls.

They've reduced heading in training and banned underage groups from it altogether, this seems sensible. How sanitised do you want life to try and rule out injuries almost completely? We're talking about people in their seventies/eighties getting dementia, that could just be a result of longer lives and they would have had it regardless. I'm not saying it doesn't increase the factor in getting dementia as that is fairly clear but we don't know what is going on in our ticking time bombs we call our bodies. I would also like to see the results of people who are in their 40's/early 50's before we do anything as drastic as banning heading altogether. We all know the footballs that Booby Charlton and Co used to head are nothing like the ones of today.
 

Status
Not open for further replies.

Welcome to GrandOldTeam

Get involved. Registration is simple and free.

Register
Back
Top