In a move that has been talked about for some time, the FA this week announced a trial that could see the end of deliberate heading by under-12s.
The FA have been given permission by football’s law-making body to remove heading from selected grassroots competitions in the forthcoming season, with a view to a game-wide ban from this time next year if the trial is a success.
It follows on from guidance in 2020, which advised coaches against under-11s practising headers in training before a phased and gradual entry to heading a ball from under-12s to under-16s.