Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Observational Study
. 2020 Aug;30(8):1506-1517.
doi: 10.1111/sms.13694. Epub 2020 May 11.

The UEFA Heading Study: Heading incidence in children's and youth' football (soccer) in eight European countries

Florian Beaudouin  1 , Asimenia Gioftsidou  2 , Malte Nejst Larsen  3 , Koen Lemmink  4 , Barry Drust  5 , Roberto Modena  6 , Javier Ramos Espinola  7 , Mihai Meiu  8 , Marc Vouillamoz  9 , Tim Meyer  1
Affiliations
Observational Study

The UEFA Heading Study: Heading incidence in children's and youth' football (soccer) in eight European countries

Florian Beaudouin et al. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2020 Aug.

Abstract

To assess the real-life magnitude of the heading incidence in children's and youth' football in eight European countries with different "football cultures," a cross-sectional observational design, in which one match per team in 480 different teams from eight European countries (2017/18-2018/19), was recorded by video. One training session was recorded in 312 teams. Clubs with Under-10, Under-12 (female/male/mixed), and Under-16 female and male teams were eligible to participate. Heading frequencies and types were analyzed. Results are presented as headers per match/training and per team. Incidence rates (IR) per 1000 match/training hours were calculated. Under-10 teams carried out the lowest average number of headers per match (8.8), followed by Under-16 female (17.7), Under-12 (18.4), and Under-16 male (35.5). Total number of headers per match and team varied between countries. 80% of the total number of headers were single intentional headers, 12% heading duels, 3% unintentional headers by getting hit, and 5% others (trends apparent in all age groups). Three head injuries occurred during match play corresponding to an IR of 0.70 (95% CI, 0.23-2.16). The lowest number of headers per training and team was found in Under-10 (21.3), followed by Under-16 females (34.1), Under-12 (35.8), and Under-16 males (45.0). In conclusion, this large-scale study presents novel data about the number and type of headers in youth' football throughout Europe. A more precise understanding of the heading incidence, specifically in young players, is mandatory for the debate of restrictions on heading in youth football.

Keywords: adolescents; head injury; heading; risk.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

REFERENCES

    1. Spiotta AM, Bartsch AJ, Benzel EC. Heading in soccer: dangerous play? Neurosurgery. 2012;70(1):1-11; discussion 11.
    1. Vann Jones SA, Breakey RW, Evans PJ. Heading in football, long-term cognitive decline and dementia: evidence from screening retired professional footballers. Br J Sports Med. 2014;48(2):159-161.
    1. Kontos AP, Braithwaite R, Chrisman SPD, et al. Systematic review and meta-analysis of the effects of football heading. Br J Sports Med. 2017;51(15):1118-1124.
    1. Maher ME, Hutchison M, Cusimano M, Comper P, Schweizer TA. Concussions and heading in soccer: a review of the evidence of incidence, mechanisms, biomarkers and neurocognitive outcomes. Brain Inj. 2014;28(3):271-285.
    1. Putukian M, Echemendia RJ, Chiampas G, et al. Head Injury in Soccer: From Science to the Field; summary of the head injury summit held in April 2017 in New York City, New York. Br J Sports Med. 2019;53(21):1332-1332.

Publication types