Heading the ball in training the day before and after a football match is to be banned in Scotland, with heading practice restricted to only once per week.
New guidance from the Scottish FA comes after research continues to strengthen the links between heading in football and neurodegenerative disease.
The pioneering FIELD study revealed a three-and-a-half times greater chance of former footballers being diagnosed with neurodegenerative disease, and repetitive head impacts have also been linked with CTE in another recent project.
Unveiled today, the guidance covers the entire adult game – including professional football – and recommends:
- Training exercises which could involve repeated heading should be carried out no more than once a week
- Training exercises which could involve repeated heading should not take place on matchday (MD) -1 or MD +1; this includes activities such as crossing and finishing and set piece practice
- Clubs should plan and monitor heading activity in training to reduce the overall heading burden.
The Scottish FA already has guidelines in place limiting heading in youth football, with a ban on headers in training for the under-12 age group.
Scotland was also the first country in the world to have a single set of concussion guidelines for all sports, with the “If in doubt, sit them out” campaign.
Its latest study into heading has included data and insights from across the men’s and women’s adult game, and has gathered insight from 50 clubs across the professional men’s and women’s games, PFA Scotland and the Coaches’ and Managers’ Association.
Over 70 per cent of managers and coaches were found to be supportive of heading guidelines being introduced, and in a recent survey of players carried out in conjunction with PFA Scotland, 64 per cent believed heading should be limited in training.
Overseen by the Scottish FA’s chief medical consultant, Dr John MacLean, and Hampden Sport Clinic’s head of research and education, Dr Katy Stewart, the guidelines have been written to advance efforts further in delivering greater player welfare.
Its proactive approach has been praised by brain injury charity Headway, which also called for an education campaign to back up the move.
Ian Maxwell, Scottish FA chief executive, said: “The historic University of Glasgow study (FIELD), which found an increased risk of neurodegenerative disease in retired professional footballers, compared to a matched population control group, has been a catalyst for a radical rethink of football guidance, starting in the youth game with the introduction of the heading guidelines for children between six and 17 in 2020.
“The Scottish FA said at the time that this research should shape the thinking in the adult game not just domestically but across the world.
“I am grateful to everyone in the professional game – clubs, coaches and managers, and players – for contributing to the latest research which has culminated in these new guidelines.
“It is our intention that these guidelines will be embraced and implemented with immediate effect. The publishing of today’s guidelines represents our ongoing commitment to player welfare.”
Dr John MacLean, Scottish FA chief medical consultant, said: “While the research continues to develop, what we already know about heading and its effects on the brain suggests that there is measurable memory impairment lasting 24 to 48 hours following a series of headers, and that brain-related proteins can be detected in blood samples for a short time after heading.
“Brain scan changes have also been reported in footballers that may be linked to heading. Therefore, the goal is to reduce any potential cumulative effect of heading by reducing the overall exposure to heading in training.”
Andy Gould, Scottish FA chief football officer, added: “There already exists a lot of data around in-match heading but this latest research has been invaluable in understanding the extent of heading load within the training environment.
“I am grateful to the clubs, managers and players for providing us with the information and perspectives required to facilitate an informed and data-driven discussion which has culminated in the publication of guidelines designed to protect the safety and wellbeing of our players.”
Luke Griggs, interim chief executive at Headway, added: “The new guidelines are a positive step forwards in terms of how football protects the brain health of players.
“Football has traditionally been fearful of change, so this willingness to evolve protocols and adapt to emerging research is a welcome development.
“If this initiative is to be a success, the new rules have to be accompanied by an educational campaign that seeks to win hearts and minds. We have to get buy-in at all levels of the game so that players, coaches and parents all understand and support the sound logic behind this sensible move.
“The link between repetitive head impacts and degenerative neurological conditions is now too well established for football to ignore.
“We look forward to learning more about how the impact of this proactive initiative will be monitored as part of the sport’s efforts to safeguard the short and long-term brain health of players.”
