To Ban or Not to Ban Heading: That’s the Question for Youth Soccer

Children from local youth soccer organizations participate in a soccer clinic with DC United Players. PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP/Getty Images

By Roberto Scalese

May 18, 2014

1 minute to read

The Boston Globe’s Derrick Z. Jackson brings the science to a long-standing youth sports debate. Citing multiple studies, Jackson argued that it’s time to ban heading the ball in youth soccer. But the leagues are dragging their heels.

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Others worried that trying to ban heading was impossible thanks to emulation; the kids see pro players head the ball, and they want to try it, too. So, the thinking goes, it’s better to teach them how to safely head a soccer ball rather than ban the tactic.

But it’s not just the kids who are getting warnings about heading the ball in soccer. Last year, Slate’s Stefan Fatsis excoriated the National Women’s Soccer League for its handling of an Abby Wambach head injury. In this video, you see Wambach take a vicious shot to the head from a kicked ball. Rather than allow extra time for proper treatment, the referee prevents Wambach’s trainers from examining her on the field, opting instead to let Wambach get up on her own.

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Wambach later scored with a header, but collapsed again at the end of the game.

From Slate:

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Is it really that important kids under the age of 10 do this, too?

Other youth sports ban or strongly discourage practices that may be too taxing for children. Little League has adopted strict pitch counts, and curve balls are strongly discouraged because young elbows may not be able to handle the torque required, according to CNN.