Over the years there have been numerous, too many to mention, changes to the rules.
Some I agree with, others I just treat with disdain and grudgingly accept them.
But could we, somewhere down the line, be set to see the biggest change ever to our wonderful game?
I make that suggestion based on the growing number of cases, among ex-players, of Dementia with heading the ball deemed to be a contributory factor.
Several of you may recall the West Bromwich Albion forward, Jeff Astle, a player who died from Dementia back in 2002.
His death saw the launch of an investigation – Parliament launch inquiry into links between sport and brain injuries – to investigate whether football contributed towards his death.
More recently, it has been revealed that the former Leeds United, Manchester United and Scotland defender, Gordon McQueen, has also been diagnosed with Dementia with it being inferred continual heading of the ball, during his career, was a contributing factor.
As a result, his daughter, Hayley, is leading a campaign to limit heading in football – BBC Sport – it is being suggested that certain age groups will be forbidden from heading the ball whilst playing the sport.
But will it end there?
Could, somewhere down the line, we see heading banned in football altogether?
It would be a drastic move and I cannot imagine the game without heading, what would happen when a long, high ball is launched into the opposition half or penalty area, is one immediate thought that springs to mind.
I cannot help but feel the game would then be a version of five-a-side where the ball is not allowed to go above shoulder height.
Some may say it will never happen, but I would counter-act that implication by recollecting how the art of the physical tackle has become a thing of the past.
Your thoughts on the above subject matter would be most appreciated, simply drop your thoughts in the comment facility beneath this article.
COYH’s
Football Without Heading, Will It Happen?
Yes!
No!
Undecided!
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Luton – Harford, Moore, Hill And One Other
Hi mh, an interesting article that I’m sure will be heavily debated. Point 1 when the players named in the article were playing the ball was still an old leather ball with laces as those of a certain vintage will know when wet they became very heavy an hurt like hell to head so probably did have a cause to dementia. Also there were many head clashes not properly treated at the time. Due to lack of medical knowledge. Point 2 as the years have passed balls are lighter an don’t soak up the wet making headers less of a problem as they are plastic coated. It’s a medical fact a blow to the side of head is as dangerous as a blow to the front. As the brain gets knocked from side to side. So with the laws now in place regarding head knocks in play an concussion substitutes allowed. I feel that there is no reason to ban heading in the game as for me it would no longer be the game I love.
afternoon chaps, imagine the impact of no longer being able to head the ball from corners, set pieces, goal kicks etc the game would lose it’s natural ebb and flow and would become farcical to play, dull to watch and the end of the beautiful game as we know it.
Mick Harford has previously mentioned he fears potentially getting dementia from heading the old style balls so much and added ” if you don’t head a football it’s not a proper football match ” which there is certainly no denying.
As Chris has mentioned footballs have evolved massively from what they were to the current version so i think it’s fairly safe to say the possible damage from the impact of heading the ball has been massively reduced. Only with long term detailed studies will it provide a definitive answer to exactly how safe the heading of footballs are.
COYH
I agree, the issue was more than lightly when we had laced up leather balls covered in dubbin.
Would also sometimes leave you with an imprint of the lace on your forehead 🙂
The new lighter ball should have gone a long way to making the game safer.
Can’t say I would like to watch a game where the player has to let a ball fly past when they could have just nodded it in the goal.
What next? world championship boxing where you can’t punch above the shoulder.