US Soccer Bans Young Players From Heading Ball

The US Soccer Federation has banned children aged 10 and under from heading the ball.

The governing body has introduced a number of safety measures to settle a lawsuit accusing it of negligence in treating and monitoring head injuries.

The ban includes national team and Major League Soccer academies.

Players aged between 11 and 13 will be limited to headers during matches only, while medical professionals must attend all academy games to decide whether players suspected of suffering concussion stay on.

If a concussed player leaves the game, it will not count as one of his or her team's substitutions.

It is unclear how the rules will be enforced by referees.

A group of youth players and parents sued at the US District Court in San Francisco in August 2014.

Steve Berman, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, said: "With the development of the youth concussion initiative by US Soccer and its youth members, we feel we have accomplished our primary goal and, therefore, do not see any need to continue the pursuit of the litigation."

Ex-MLS player Taylor Twellman, whose career was cut short after suffering several concussions, reacted on Twitter: "Can't tell you how emotional I am that progress is being made and I can't wait to see it come to fruition."

In the UK, the family of former England and West Brom player Geoff Astle has campaigned for controls on heading.

They say the brain disease that killed him was clearly linked to how often he headed the ball during his career.

His widow, Laraine, told Sky News: "There is such an awful lot to be done. I've never felt this country has taken it seriously as the Americans. This is now a wake-up call."

The FA introduced new guidelines for professional matches last season that require team doctors to decide whether concussed players stay on the pitch.

There are no guidelines yet on youth football - despite warnings from neuroscientists.

Dr Michael Grey told Sky News last year: "It's probably not safe for children to be heading the ball. First, their neck muscles are not fully developed.

"Second, the brain is still developing, so it is still a vulnerable period for taking a blow to the head."

Dr Grey said it had not yet been established whether heading was dangerous for adults.

An FA statement said: "The FA is committed to making the game as safe as possible and has noted today's new rule changes outlined by US Soccer and will closely monitor any available new research in this area.

"The FA will shortly announce new guidelines - formed by an independent expert panel - which look at how to identify, manage and treat suspected head injuries and to manage a player's safe return to play at all levels of football."

The statement added, however, that decisions about how the game was played were for FIFA.