BBC: Heading soccer balls "affects memory"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just watched Barcelona play live and heading was a HUGE part of the game.

Trying to imagine a World Cup where we send a US National team that never mastered the skill....

I think parents can opt out of the sport, but let's not fundamentally change a sport that has been around for 100s of years.

My kids don't play American football or box. I don't lobby to take out tackling or punching in those sports.

All sports have some degree of danger. It's your prerogative to choose one for your own child after weighing the risks.

Create your own sport even if you like.

But do you need to learn to head the ball before the skull and neck muscles have developed?

And can you teach heading in practice using soft balls, so you're got the technique down before you start doing it in games at U12?

All sports change. American football was far different a century ago, even 20 years ago.

And in soccer worldwide, the "direct" style of whacking a ball in the air to a big forward has been waning for many years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just watched Barcelona play live and heading was a HUGE part of the game.

Trying to imagine a World Cup where we send a US National team that never mastered the skill....

I think parents can opt out of the sport, but let's not fundamentally change a sport that has been around for 100s of years.

My kids don't play American football or box. I don't lobby to take out tackling or punching in those sports.

All sports have some degree of danger. It's your prerogative to choose one for your own child after weighing the risks.

Create your own sport even if you like.

But do you need to learn to head the ball before the skull and neck muscles have developed?

And can you teach heading in practice using soft balls, so you're got the technique down before you start doing it in games at U12?

All sports change. American football was far different a century ago, even 20 years ago.

And in soccer worldwide, the "direct" style of whacking a ball in the air to a big forward has been waning for many years.

American football is an American novelty. America can change the rules as it sees fit.

Futbol/soccer is a global sport.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just watched Barcelona play live and heading was a HUGE part of the game.

Trying to imagine a World Cup where we send a US National team that never mastered the skill....

I think parents can opt out of the sport, but let's not fundamentally change a sport that has been around for 100s of years.

My kids don't play American football or box. I don't lobby to take out tackling or punching in those sports.

All sports have some degree of danger. It's your prerogative to choose one for your own child after weighing the risks.

Create your own sport even if you like.

But do you need to learn to head the ball before the skull and neck muscles have developed?

And can you teach heading in practice using soft balls, so you're got the technique down before you start doing it in games at U12?

All sports change. American football was far different a century ago, even 20 years ago.

And in soccer worldwide, the "direct" style of whacking a ball in the air to a big forward has been waning for many years.

American football is an American novelty. America can change the rules as it sees fit.

Futbol/soccer is a global sport.

It's not just Americans driving changes. Americans didn't change the rules on passing back to the goalkeeper, Golden Goal/no Golden Goal, kickoffs going forward, etc., etc.

We're part of, but certainly not the entirety of, the movement toward video replay.

The sport doesn't change as often as American football does, which is good. But nevertheless, it evolves.

I don't think heading the ball will ever disappear completely. But I wouldn't be surprised if things changed a bit in the next 10 years.

[Anonymous]

I don't even want to know. I have headed so many balls in my career, from hard corner kicks, 50 meter goal kicks, etc...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Well, duh.

Come on people. Isn't it logical that hitting one's head repeatedly would have consequences? Especially if you start as a kid with a still-developing brain?

Seriously.

There are parents that put their daughters into ICE HOCKEY.

So basically, there are plenty of people with no common sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Well, duh.

Come on people. Isn't it logical that hitting one's head repeatedly would have consequences? Especially if you start as a kid with a still-developing brain?

Seriously.

There are parents that put their daughters into ICE HOCKEY.

So basically, there are plenty of people with no common sense.

Is that a silver medal I see?