Dementia linked to headers

Merlin5 · 19 Nov 2019 at 19:54

They've just been discussing this on the One Show. What are your thoughts? It's not something that should be banned as it's obviously an integral part of the game, but does it worry you guys who play regularly or if you have kids that play regularly? Scottish football association has advised under 11s not to head the ball.

From 4:50
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000bhzl/the-one-show-19112019

SDK^ · 19 Nov 2019 at 20:37

My 8 year old son heads the ball regularly, from corners and even a couple of free kicks. He knows how to do it properly and if he’s happy to do it then I’m happy too

CliffyG · 20 Nov 2019 at 12:25

Is it actually linked to headers or just more prevalent among ex-footballers than normal people?

dacads · 20 Nov 2019 at 13:30

The force at which the inpact happens, of course there's going to be some effect overtime.

Ayahuasca · 20 Nov 2019 at 13:52

Not surprising, I cringe a little at the thought of some of the old balls they used to use :eek:

Malevolence · 20 Nov 2019 at 19:06

Alan Shearer did a good documentary on this, but for some reason the BBC decided that it's yet another licence fee funded programme that the licence payers can't actually watch. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09g0gzk

Good news is that it's available on YouTube.

mmj_uk · 21 Nov 2019 at 11:42

If footballers don't want to risk heading then I'd be happy to do so on their wages. I feel most sorry for footballers of yesteryear who got paid peanuts, played for the love of the game and had to head heavy leather balls. That's assuming there's proven evidence linking repeated heading and dementia.

CliffyG · 21 Nov 2019 at 12:11

mmj_uk said:
That's assuming there's proven evidence linking repeated heading and dementia.

Yep, just linking footballers and a higher rate of dementia doesn't prove anything.

Fubsy · 22 Nov 2019 at 01:02

My grandad is currently no longer able to talk, walk, feed or pretty much do anything for himself, having deteriorated over the past 5 years slowly managed with drugs as it was spotted early. I can't elaborate much more as it's incredibly upsetting and tears flow just typing this. I could visit at Christmas and find he no longer recognises me.

He played in the 50's and 60's in the top flight. We're not convinced it's solely down to the constant heading of the heavy leather ball he played with since his mother also descended into the same illness at the end of her life. Having said that, more than a few of his old team mates have been diagnosed with dementia and subsequently died from the condition without any previous familial history of the disease.

Either way, I think it's probable that the issue is now lessened due to the lighter balls used that don't get to lead levels of heavy when wet on a Saturday afternoon.