Are headers in children’s football a health risk? Experts say yes. And call on the DFB to act – but it refuses.
It’s been a topic of discussion for years: How dangerous are headers in football, especially for children?
Specialists at Hamburg’s Asklepios Klinik Nord have now called for a ban on headers in soccer with children under the age of twelve. The doctors – including neurologists, ear, nose and throat specialists and pediatric surgeons – also criticized the attitude of the German Football Association (DFB), which relies on age-appropriate regulations. “The experts at the clinic agree that a clear ban on headers would be the much more responsible version,” said a spokesman for the Asklepios clinics.
DFB does not believe in banning headers
The team doctor of the German national team and head of the medical committee of the DFB, Tim Meyer, had warned against ill-considered bans at the end of January: “As a rule, such a header does not result in any tangible medical symptoms.” Concussions could occasionally occur with headers. “Most of the time it’s not the ball that induces that concussion, it’s the contact with the opponent’s head, shoulder, post or the ground,” Meyer said.
The DFB recommends light balls – some made of foam – and a small number of header repetitions per training session for training in the younger youth classes. Small playing fields for the younger ones and mini-goals should help ensure that the balls are played flat.
The doctors at Hamburg’s Asklepios Clinic called on the DFB to immediately take a stand against the early header game and to suspend header training for children under the age of twelve. “Relying on Commissioner Coincidence in the sense that the problem will practically resolve itself through changed forms of play in the small field, we do not think is sufficient protection for the long-term health of our children,” explained the chief physician of the children’s clinic at Asklepios Nord, Markus Kemper .
A Scottish study in 2019 found soccer players at an increased risk of dying from dementia or Alzheimer’s. So far, there is no answer to the question of whether heading balls can cause serious brain diseases. England, Scotland and Northern Ireland have banned headers in training for children under the age of 12 since the beginning of 2020. Headballs are illegal for children under the age of 10 in the United States.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
