Now you take it a step too far sir.
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I know you’re joking, but still - headwear doesn’t protect the brain.
Boxers use headwear to protect against cuts, it doesn’t stop the brain rattling around in the skull.
There’s no need for kids to practice heading a ball - it isn’t a particularly difficult skill to learn. Use your forehead, not the top of your head. Boom, that’s about 90% of it done already.
Kids will still head the ball when they play games between themselves regardless, there’s no need to incorporate it into structured play.
I don’t see the purpose of outlawing it in adult football - it’s a risk, but hardly a large one when compared to loads of other sports. I highly doubt there’s an appetite for it to be outlawed amongst players.
Kids football - get rid of it. Adult football - keep IMO.
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In some ways it is really good, as it promotes trying to get them to play better football on the deck. Passing, usually shorter passes and concentrating on giving the player with the ball some options, not just lumping it long.
One strange aspect is corners. We usually try to work something to get a shot off, but if a cross comes in it’s strange as they try to chest it or tussle for it without heading it. The refs relax the heading law a bit if the ball has bounced and it’s more of a little control thing with the head.
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Although I think I read that there is some limit to how much specific heading training is allowed in pro football.
(Nobody tell @Quicksand that kids don’t do throw ins anymore)
Why not though?
Might over extend their arms?
Its nonsense Mascot, pure nonsense. Kids are learning a sport by not learning a sport.
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That’s must be why Brazil have never had much success at international level - too much futsal, not enough heading and throw-ins.
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Yep
Pele never headed a goal
Pele grew up playing futsal, not doing structured heading drills.
Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the greatest headers of the ball ever, grew up playing futsal as a child.
Learning to head a ball takes about 10 minutes, there’s no need to extensively practice.
Much better (and safer) use of a kids time to play with the ball on the floor.
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Yup we never spent a massive amount on it at training to be honest at amateur level. I think the main drills we did was cushion heading which is probably a lot safer a drill anyhow.
I think we did crossing drills once or twice but it was more aggressive attackers rather than much heading.
It’s not a massive thing if you say teach it from 14 onwards anyhow. Might shift the game away from the rather dull spectacle we are seeing creeping in currently.
Wifey keeps encouraging me to do this and maybe a few on here 
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Are you good at heading a ball?
I can’t remember.
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Brilliant!
I fucking love that.
Again, it doesn’t affect my group, but I think the logic is that it encourages a shift toward being purposeful with the ball rather than just hopefully throwing the ball forwards. Throw ins slow the game down and the ball ends up bouncing about, often going straight out for another throw. We want kids spending as much time as possible with the ball at their feet.
When they need to do throw ins, you can teach it in five minutes.
A gradual introduction of the rules has been part of football for years and years. Offside, full size pitches, 11 a side.
There has been some controversy in youth football recently with the introduction of 3v3 football for the very youngest children. 15 minute games, no keepers, barely any rules. Some regional FAs have refused to adopt it, and people (especially older coaches) are kicking off about it. And yet, it seems everyone who has actually been playing it thinks it’s transformational and can’t stop talking about how much kids confidence and ability grows when they play this format.
It’s not just learning how to take throw ins, there is a lot more to it, tragectory, flight, to feet, for a flick on and also with the reciever, how to make the run, controlling a bouncing ball, etc etc etc
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But also for very young kids it breaks the game and takes away time they could be spending on core skills.
Incidentally, I think throw in’s need looking at in the adult game too.
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As a keeper I do think removing that is a bit disappointing.
Unless your doing it separately like we would.
Much like our American game…certain that no changes whatsoever would have been made without litigation. Money talks, as the saying goes.
The NFL and viewers were addicted to the “thrills” of high-velocity collisions. “Jacked Up!” was a favorite TV view on sports shows. They never had an iota of “care “ for the player—until they got nailed in the pocketbook. Now, the game is totally different than when I played.
For example, this was the interior of a helmet in my time:
And today in the NFL/Colleges:
Personally, I’m happy for today’s players—in all contact sport—that finally someone is looking out for them…even if forced to do so.
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So controlling a ball that comes in at various heights and judging flight and trajectory isn’t a core skill?