England: new guidance for heading to be introduced for English football from the 2021-22 season

New heading guidelines, the result of research by a subgroup of the Professional Football Negotiating and Consultative Committee (PFNCC) are to be introduced for English football "across every level of the professional and amateur game from the start of the 2021-22 season," announced The FA, Premier League, EFL, PFA and LMA on 28/07/2021.

"The new guidance (see downloads), which is specifically focused on training sessions where the majority of heading occurs, has been designed to meet the requirements of each level of English football. The guidance will be applicable to clubs in the Premier League, English Football League, Barclays FA Women's Super League, FA Women's Championship, the National League System, the Women's Football Pyramid Tiers 3 and below, all grassroots football, and across the England national teams (see below)," explained the English bodies.

"The aim of this guidance is to reduce overall exposure to heading without compromising development of technique and the role heading plays in the English game. The role of the coach in supporting players' skill development…