Scottish FA Heading Guidelines

Scottish FA Heading Guidelines - Children's and youth football

The following guidelines for heading in training and matches should be applied to the game across the various ages and stages as outlined below.

Key Points

The Scottish FA recommend no heading practice in children’s football (primary school age children).

Graduated approach to heading in the youth ages (secondary school age children).

Heading Guidelines

AGE GROUP	GAME FORMAT	BALL SIZE	HEADING FREQUENCY FOR PRACTICE/TRAINING SESSIONS	GAME CONTEXT
6s & 7s 8s	Up to 4v4 Up to 5v5	3 3	Heading should not be introduced in training sessions at these ages. The focus should be on fun activities and game formats to engage players with an emphasis on learning to master the ball.	Coaches should encourage dribbling, passing and fundamental movement skills. N.N. SWF Girls follow same guidance.
9s, 10s & 11s	Up to 7v7	4	Heading should not be introduced in training sessions at these ages. The focus should continue to be on fun to engage players, teaching them to master the ball and understand the basic principles of the game.	Coaches should continue to emphasise dribbling, passing and combination play. The retreating line used at 9s will be introduced at 10s and 11s to encourage playing through the thirds. Short corners and short free kicks should be encouraged. N.B. SWF Girls - 10s play 7v7 (size 3 ball)
12s	Up to 9v9	4	Heading is a low priority. Our expectation is that heading should not be introduced at this stage. However, if coaches feel it absolutely necessary to introduce the technique of heading, we would strongly advise a maximum of one session per month, with lightweight balls, maximum repetition of five headers per session, using self-serves or short distance serves. These limited sessions should introduce the technique of heading and should always be unopposed.	Heading is rarely observed in games at this age. Coaches should continue to emphasise dribbling, passing and combination play. To reduce further the instances of heading within games coaches should encourage short corners and free-kicks. N.B. SWF Girls - 12s play 7v7 (Size 4 ball)
13s	Up to 11v11	4	Heading is a low priority. At this age, however, players can be introduced to the basic concepts in training with limited repetition. Coaches should not focus on heading practice more than one session per week and should limit the number of headers per player to five per session. Coaches should use a variety of distances relative to the game at this age. Don’t over inflate the footballs: use the lowest pressure authorised by the Laws of the Game.	Heading may become more likely within the game at this age and stage. However, coaches should continue to encourage a style of play which limits the number of longer, higher passes.
14s & 15s	Up 11v11	5	Heading remains a low priority. Coaches should not focus on heading practice more than one session per week and should limit the number of headers per player to 10 per session. Lightweight balls can still be used to support the development of the technique. Don’t over inflate the footballs: use the lowest pressure authorised by the Laws of the Game.	As player's knowledge of the game and physical strength develop, we will see more tactical use of restarts resulting in an increased use of headers. Coaches should still encourage a style of play which limits the number of longer, higher passes. 14s play 11v11 (size 5 ball)
16s & 17s	Up to 11v11	5	Heading sessions once a week only. Coaches should use a variety of heading situations which players may experience during the game. Coaches should still be mindful of the number of repetitions during any one training session. Lightweight balls can still be used to support the development of the technique. Don’t over inflate the footballs: use the lowest pressure authorised by the Laws of the Game.	As player's knowledge of the game and physical strength develop, we will see more tactical use of restarts resulting in an increased use of headers. Coaches should still encourage a style of play which limits the number of longer, higher passes.

Additional Guidance Notes

Coaches and volunteers should complete the relevant Scottish FA Coach Education courses for the ages and stages and attend the relevant Player Pathway Workshops. Scottish Sports Concussion Guidance – Coaches, teachers, leaders and parents involved in the game should have a clear awareness of the symptoms of possible concussion and understand how to deal with these situations.

In the event of any doubt players should be removed from the field of play and the correct protocols followed. Further information is available via the Scottish Sports Concussion Guidance, however, ‘IF IN DOUBT, SIT THEM OUT’.

There are various resources available via this Link.

This guidance is intended to provide information on how to recognise sports concussion, how this should be managed from the time of injury through to safe return to sport.

The Scottish FA Grassroots Game app is coming soon and will provide coaches and parents with relevant guidance on playing rules and regulations at each age and stage.

The Scottish FA Grassroots Game app will be available for free via all mobile app stores.

Heading Guidelines FAQs

Q. Why have the guidelines been introduced?

A. The recently published FIELD study carried out by the University of Glasgow found a significant increase in the incidence of neuro degenerative diseases such as dementia in former Scottish professional footballers. It also showed an improvement in life expectancy up to age 70 and a reduction in other common diseases such as heart disease and lung cancer. The study was not designed to and therefore, could not identify specific causative factors such as heading or head injury. However, the Scottish FA believes that player welfare, especially of young players, is paramount and has collaborated with colleagues to produce some pragmatic guidelines designed to help coaches remove repetitive and unnecessary heading from youth football in the earliest years, with a phased introduction at an age group considered most appropriate by our medical experts.

Q. What research currently exists around heading burden?

A. There have been a number of studies carried out across Europe in the last year. These studies are available through contacting Doctor John MacLean at Hampden Sports Medicine Centre via John.MacLean@hampdensportsclinic.com.

Q. What if a header occurs during play in a children’s football game?

A. Coaches should encourage dribbling, passing, combination play and fundamental movement skills, however, on rare occasions heading may happen. These situations should not be penalised and play continues as normal. In game formats such as 7-a-side, coaches should ensure the application of the additional guidance related to short corners, short free-kicks and the use of the retreating line to play through the thirds.

Q. What should I do if I see poor practice in relation to the heading guidelines?

A. Whilst the Scottish FA and Affiliated National Associations will do as much as possible to promote the guidelines it may be necessary to re-emphasise the information set out. Where poor practice continues to be observed this should be reported to the relevant Affiliated National Association (i.e Scottish Youth Football Association).

Q. Where can I learn more about how to introduce young players to heading?

A. The Scottish FA deliver a comprehensive coach education programme for coaches working at all ages and stages of the game and will provide technical information for coaches on how to deal with heading practice through these courses. Information on these courses can be found here.

Q. Will neck strengthening exercises help?

A. Recent scientific evidence has demonstrated that neck strengthening exercises might be beneficial in heading drills. Techniques on how to teach neck strengthening exercises will be under consideration as we continually review how best to support the game. For example, it could form part of coach development programmes in the future, however, more work is required in this area before we are able to provide any further guidance.

Q. What happens if players receive a knock to the head?

A. There are clear concussion guidelines set out through the Scottish Sport Concussion Guidelines ‘IF IN DOUBT, SIT THEM OUT’. Coaches, leaders, volunteers and parents should ensure they are familiar with these. In any situation where there is doubt, players should be removed from the pitch. Information is available by following this link.

Q. Will the Scottish FA monitor the effect of the new guidelines?

A. Yes, the Scottish FA will do this in conjunction with Affiliated National Associations and other key football stakeholders including the Hampden Sports Clinic. We will monitor the effectiveness of the guidelines and review and update on an annual basis.

Q. Are players allowed to practice heading outside of training functions?

A. Individual players may decide to practice heading out with specific training exercises. Clubs must make parents, guardians and players aware of this guidance and ensure any such individual exercises take place within the parameters set out. Individual activity should not take place on Match Day -1 or Match Day +1.

DOWNLOAD THE HEADING GUIDELINES HERE