https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50124102
Interesting read and thought provoking for us that played in a certain generation.
Interesting read and thought provoking for us that played in a certain generation.
The sample was taken from men who played professional football in Scotland between 1900 and 1976.
Always wondered why thee is not the full ticket!The balls we played with weren't the medicine ball type but were certainly heavier to what i see today. Certainly remember catching one on the sweet spot on my forehead in the Sheffield Works Premier on Bawtry Road, I was 16 playing in an adult team, scored 2 that day and it was probably the only time I caught one perfect. I do remember your head ringing when one came out of the sky and you sent it back with interest which was more the norm!!!
Motor neurone is an odd one,
I don’t doubt the four-fold increase in cases amongst footballers... but...
I lost my dad to MND so read up and spoke to people. AFAIK no one has been able to ”prove” any cause. So, we are left with ”opinions” from knowledgable people. The helpers and association people I spoke to (wonderful people!) had two anecdotal - unproven - theories: electrocution (my dad scored here from nearly blowing himself up with a guitar amp a 16!) and, get this, living/working close/near to prepared parkland i.e. Golf courses, groundstaff etc.
...sorry it took so long to get there, but based on my tiny insight the MND numbers could be from just being at the training ground!
I fear we're sliding down the Nanny Slope towards headers being outlawed along with HB. It will apply to young age-groups first and gradually creep into adult football. By which time boxing will be a distant memory
are they the same states that legalised cannabis?Heading has already been banned at youth level in some American states.
Heading has already been banned at youth level in some American states.
No, it's a national ban for those 10 and under in any USSF sanctioned organizations. (Exact implementation has varied a little bit, as 10 year olds can be playing with older players.) Deliberately heading the ball is a safety violation resulting in an IFK (but cannot result in misconduct).
The ban followed a lawsuit that included USSF and other organizations. The concern was that the younger brain is less stable within the skull and more susceptible to brain injury--whether full concussion or harm from repeated sub-concussion hits.
Not exactly on point, but the last stats I saw showed that for US high schools, the second highest concussion rate was for girl's soccer--and it was close to American football, which was first.
Strange world we live in. One in which risk is hyped and misunderstood. Life and risk are interchangeable. The perils of football are eclipsed by Fortnite addiction and childhood obesityOn Radio 4 this morning they were talking about how any head impact (whether with a new ball or not) can cause damage. Personally I can see headers being outlawed in youth from progressively older age ranges up until perhaps 16+ as we learn more about this.
I've seen many 'bad' headers in my time (done a few as well ) and the sport will have to start asking itself are the risks starting to outweigh the benefits.
Don't get me wrong - outlawing headers in the game would significantly lessen the sport - but realistically the chances of little Timmy making it as a Pro are tiny so let's at least make sure his involvement in the game doesn't do lasting damage.