Heading ban for u12s (England)
- Thread starter bester
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socal lurker
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The US took this step a few years ago. There are some slightly different approaches as to details, but the general concept is that deliberately heading the ball is a safety violation resulting in an IFK for the other team. Doesn’t matter if it is a live ball or a restart, they simply aren’t allowed to head the ball. Some places have applied the IFK to unintentional contact with heads, some have made unintentional head contact an automatic DB, and others have done nothing on inadvertently contact with heads (unless, of course, the R stops for an apparent injury).
there is a developmental plus side—players who weren’t allowed to head the ball young tend to be much better at playing the ball from the air in other ways. (And I’m not sure there is that much down side in developing heading skills, as so many “headers” at younger ages are just a player standing there and letting the ball hit his or her head.)
there is a developmental plus side—players who weren’t allowed to head the ball young tend to be much better at playing the ball from the air in other ways. (And I’m not sure there is that much down side in developing heading skills, as so many “headers” at younger ages are just a player standing there and letting the ball hit his or her head.)
I totally understand why they've brought this in, but not sure how it's going to work in practice. ie what happens if a corner is swung in a head height ? Does everyone just duck, until it hits a player in the face ? Personally, i'd start by ruling out drop- kicks from keepers in the early years, so that it doesn't get launched onto some poor kids head
socal lurker
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In the US, GKs are generally not allowed to punt/drop kick at 10U, but are at 12U.
and even at 12U, not that many players are taking corners that get put in for header attacks. If the ball is high, they still need to play with a different part of the body. Investors been seeing it for several years now, and it really isn’t a big deal in actual practice. (If this moved to 14U, I think it would be more of a challenge.)
socal lurker
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Not in the US. It is a safety infraction, not an offense. Can never be subject to caution/send off.
Keep in mind this is a rule for kids. Not too many at these ages are cynical enough to actually do all the conniving things we can think about with a rule like this.
I’ve done dozens of games with the no-heading rule, and have yet to see a cynical play to take advantage of the rule. while I’ve heard lots and lots of hypothetical situations, I haven’t even heard of an actual one that occurred.
it’s a safety rule, nothing more.
I coach a girls side who are starting U11s this season (22/23) at 9v9 with offside etc, they play in the U11s boys league and there is very little heading in the game bar a couple of stand out players.
In the 9v9 games I've covered, very little heading of the ball. Last season I saw 1 "diving" (he fell over) header scored at U12s.
In the 9v9 games I've covered, very little heading of the ball. Last season I saw 1 "diving" (he fell over) header scored at U12s.
I coach an U12's (last season) with 9v9 and many of the teams we played against launched corner kicks balls into the box where there were 2-3 players waiting to head home (coached that way).
I haven’t seen that anybody in here have any “specifics “ for this season coming … did you manage to get info from anywhere else … I attend my grandsons coaching lessons and am being asked as “the knowledgeable one” - how does this work? Guidelines - sanctions etc
ChasObserverRefDeveloper
Regular Contributor
The FA have not yet released detailed instructions, but expected soon.
Local youth leagues (Bristol) covered by two regional FA's are a no.
Hmm haven't heard that we are and a recent email made me doubt that we are confirmed to be...
Received the IFAB rules today on this trial…
Looks like it is essentially going to be like handball .. in that deliberately heading the ball is a YC or RC offence depending on situation.. seems over the top to me for under 12s but I guess they need to have clarity
Looks like it is essentially going to be like handball .. in that deliberately heading the ball is a YC or RC offence depending on situation.. seems over the top to me for under 12s but I guess they need to have clarity