sports
Australian Football Bodies Call for Limits on Youth Heading
The Professional Footballers of Australia and a concussion researcher are urging Football Australia to restrict heading for players under 12 and to cap high-force headers in training. An Australian-led team has developed an on-pitch concussion test now under real-world study by FIFA. Current national guidelines focus on concussion identification and return-to-play rather than heading limits.
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The Professional Footballers of Australia and neuroscientist Alan Pearce are asking Football Australia to delay heading instruction until players are older, limit weekly high-force headers, and add temporary concussion substitutes. Pearce, founder of Concussion Legacy Foundation Australia, said repeated heading can release tau protein linked to dementia and chronic traumatic encephalopathy, even without diagnosed concussions.
An Australian research team helped FIFA create an on-pitch concussion assessment protocol now being tested in real-world settings. The protocol uses questionnaires from medical staff in FIFA leagues to standardize evaluations.
Australia released updated concussion guidelines last year aligned with the Australian Sports Commission and Australian Institute of Sport. The organization also formed an expert project team to review literature on reducing heading exposure in youth football.
APIA Leichhardt Football Club stopped teaching heading to its under-12 players in 2020 and still excludes the skill from that age group's curriculum. Pearce said Australia should adopt precautionary limits before any domestic case of CTE in a former soccer player is confirmed.
