Our colonial cousins are introducing a no heading the ball rule for under 10s. Is this the first step into them trying to change the way the game is played? They say ita for safety reasons. Cant really argue that one. What next. No kicking the ball over 5ft high?
This seems like the first rule introduced for safety reasons, but people have been tweaking the game for a while now. Brazilian futsal for example. I think this is a fairly good rule for safety reasons but if it is enforced I can imagine American teams becoming more skillful higher up the pitch but developing fewer good defenders after 15 years or so. Interesting to see if it makes an impact. My step dad played for Preston NE and was a combative midfielder when balls were a lot heavier than they are now......he did develop Alzheimer's. Related? Who knows?
There seems to be more concern about that issue at the moment Solsec. Although footballs today are a lot heavier than those heavyweights we used to kick around as kids, until they come up definitive proof that it doesn't harm kids of that age then I wouldn't argue against what the yanks are doing in wanting to protect their kids in their formative years. They could be accused of wrapping their kids up in cotton wool but there's no point in defying medical advice about their kids if that is the reason for them doing so.
All this means to me is there's probably gonna be a lack of decent goalkeepers at junior level in that country. Imagine when they step up to 11+ teams and there's just headers flying past them "Never seen one of them before". Absolute joke. They'll be wearing skirts next.
I think one English county council introduced this rule two or three years ago. I remember we all laughed at it then, but people seem to be taking it more seriously now. Who knows?
But this isnt one council. Its from the governing bodies. Academy kiddies learning football but no heading. Ok they are only young. But like Tel points out wtf happens once they are 11?
Pro clubs are training kids from ages 4 nowadays, if they play well for their age. Imagine all the crushed young souls who think they're going to make it then find out they can't head for ****. All the man hours wasted on kids who can turn on a 5p coin but have a head like a 50p coin.
Full of enthusiasm. Not scared of owt. Get yer head in there lad. Dont be scared. You.ll play for the club one day. Words echoed in every city and town.
Funny story : When Tommy Lawton moved to Everton in 1936, 'Dixie' Dean was nearly finished. 'Dixie' took young Tommy under his wing a bit, and taught him a few things. Apparently, 'Dixie' used to fill a case ball with water and Tommy had to head it back hard and accurately. Can you imagine that? A case ball full of water? - My head would have snapped off!
Helmets will be introduced next. Before long, the ball will change shape and players will put pads on, both types, body armour style and tampons to stop them having a period. Spend 3 hours after each game, rubbing each other's balls in the bath and putting mascara on each other.
Wonder what the stupid yank ****s do in junior boxing. Oh, you're not allowed to punch him because he's not 12 yet.
Brick **** houses, who then get into protective costumes to stop getting scratched off other players, then they call Rugby players homo's because they throw the ball underarm/sideways instead of like a man. All American sports bore the life out of me, Basketball is for long gimps at school who are **** at football, Baseball is just cricket with hot dogs and music, Nascar is just grown up scalextric, NFL is a sausagefest of oiled up pretty boys and soccer is just a term widely accepted to mean '**** football'.