THE RULE
Under-7s to under-11s
Deliberate heading in affiliated grassroots matches was phased out at U7 to U9 from 2024-25, U10 from 2025-26 and U11 from 2026-27, including school matches.
Check an age groupStart
WHAT ENGLAND FOOTBALL SAYS
Feet
first.
In children's matches, the ball is staying on the ground.
England's football association has phased deliberate heading out of grassroots youth matches up to under-11 level, after earlier limits on heading in training. Heading is now introduced at under-12, as players move to secondary school.
U7 TO U11no deliberate heading
Check an age groupKeep in mind
- Ball on the ground
- Pass-in, not throw-in
- Heading from U12
- The youth rules in three lines
THE SHORT ANSWER
Phased out,
age group by age group.
Matches changed in stages from 2024.
Training guidance came first, in 2020.
THE RESTARTS
Pass-in instead of throw-in
For U7 to U9 teams, a deliberate header gives an indirect free kick, and the throw-in is replaced by a pass-in or dribble-in, with opponents 5 yards away.
How matches change
THE TRAINING
No heading for primary ages
The FA's 2020 guidance ended heading in training in the foundation phase, for primary school children, with a graduated approach from U12 to U16.
Why it changedGeneral information only, not professional safety advice. If someone is in immediate danger, call the emergency services.
A QUICK AGE CHECK
What applies
at this age?
Pick an age group to see the heading rules in English grassroots football. The bar shows how tightly heading is restricted.
From England Football's May 2024 announcement and the FA's February 2020 training guidance as reported. Check your league's rules for details.
TWO NUMBERS WORTH KNOWING
The study
behind the change.
From a University of Glasgow study of former
Scottish professional players, published in 2019.
≈ 3.5×
Neurodegenerative disease deaths vs matched controls
1.7% of former players died with neurodegenerative disease as the primary cause, against 0.5% of controls (subhazard ratio 3.45).
RISK · NEJM 2019
7,676
Former professional players studied
Compared with 23,028 people from the general population matched by sex, age and social deprivation, over a median of 18 years.
SCALE · NEJM 2019
The study did not show that heading caused the higher risk, and its authors said the findings need confirming. The FA said its guidance was to mitigate potential risks.
FOUR CHANGES PARENTS WILL SEE
Different restarts,
more ball at feet.
England Football says the aim is more technical opportunities with the ball at players' feet, more playing time and less time with the ball in the air.
Step 1
Indirect free kick for a header
Taken where the header happened. A header in a team's own penalty area restarts from the nearest side line of the area.
Step 2
Pass-in or dribble-in
When the ball crosses the touchline, it restarts with a pass-in or dribble-in from the touchline, not a throw-in.
Step 3
Opponents back 5 yards
All opponents stand at least 5 yards from the restart point. A goal cannot be scored directly from a pass-in.
Step 4
No cautions for a one-off
A deliberate header carries no disciplinary sanction unless it is a persistent deliberate offence.
HOW WE GOT HERE
Training first,
then matches.
The FA brought in heading guidance for youth training in 2020, then guidance on heading in training across every level of the professional and amateur game in 2021. In 2022 it became the first national association to adopt an IFAB trial removing deliberate heading in grassroots matches at U12 and below.
The Glasgow study found former players had lower death rates from heart disease and lung cancer than controls, but higher rates of neurodegenerative disease. Goalkeepers' rates did not differ significantly from outfield players, though they were prescribed dementia medicines less often.
Questions
Questions on the way
Is heading banned in children's football in England?
Deliberate heading has been phased out of affiliated grassroots matches for U7 to U11, completed with U11 from the 2026-27 season. Heading is introduced at U12.
What happens if a child heads the ball?
For a deliberate header, the referee awards an indirect free kick. There is no disciplinary sanction unless it is a persistent deliberate offence.
Is there still a throw-in?
Not for U7 to U9 teams under the new rules. When the ball goes over the touchline, play restarts with a pass-in or dribble-in, with opponents at least 5 yards away.
What about heading in training?
The FA's 2020 guidance said no heading in training for primary school children, with a graduated approach to heading training from U12 to U16.
Why were the rules changed?
A 2019 University of Glasgow study found former professional players were about 3.5 times as likely as matched controls to die with neurodegenerative disease. It did not prove heading was the cause; the FA acted to mitigate potential risks.
Destination
Where the facts come from
- England Football: New heading rules for U7 to U11 youth football (May 2024)
- Sport Resolutions: Heading in football banned for children aged under 12 (2020)
- Somerset Council: Football heading guidance
- Mackay et al. (2019), Neurodegenerative disease mortality among former professional soccer players, NEJM (PubMed)
Updated