Never watch any American sports, but lots do and enjoy it so I am told by various promoters on Talk Sport. Back to the topic, the heading rule for that age group seems sensible enough, most kids cant head the ball at that age anyway, so it will make little difference to their development as footballers, and could be a bit safer maybe.
Does the MSL still have the rules where you aren't allowed to draw a game and the penalties are taken from the half way line? I don't think the header rule will hamper development too much as it doesn't go into their teens, plus kids will play football with their mates and still head a ball. I had plenty of blubber before I was 14 so I couldn't rely on pace so I ended up being good technically, could do anything with either foot to the extent I didn't have a preference on set pieces, just whatever fit the situation best, and I could hold up the ball well. This is why it boils my piss when pros mess up on their weak foot. All I did was practice over about 2-3 years and it literally doubles your options in every circumstance. You can always shield the ball on the opposite side to the opponent, no need to switch the ball to shoot, you can go down the line or cut inside etc. I think the Dutch are the only ones who teach this at academies. By the time I lost the puppy fat and got very fast I played as a lone striker and scored plenty at local league level. Honestly all because I was a fat kid and had to find other ways to improve. Having to adapt part of your game, or any aspect of life for that matter, just makes you stronger in my opinion. This rule will make American kids more exposed to the technical side of the game at a young age especially first touch and volleys. Whether or not it it has an impact on safety is besides the point for me. I just think it will end up giving the kids a strong technical grounding before they turn physical in their teens. BUT.........I did do most of my training in 5aside when I was younger (10-18) against older blokes. Great for technical ability and nouse but I couldn't head a ball for ****. A quick 15st 6'2" lone striker who probably scored 1/100 with his head. Piss poor!
Ginola was (apparently) right footed as a youngster but badly damaged his right foot and couldn't train properly so just used to practice taking left footed shots over and over by himself. Worked out ok for him. Federer was known on the youth tennis circuit as having a poor backhand so his opponents used to just target it and target it so he had to practice it over and over until it became the best in the world. An ability to adapt and improve is what separates "potential stars" from "stars".
Yes..I listened to the USA officials talking about this last night, and it seems that this is just the first step in their ambition to get heading banned altogether..They stated that if this is passed then their next step is raise the bar to 14.
They are going to ban heading and also raise the bar? They're gradually turning it into American Football!
The odd thing is that I started to play with my left foot simply because I saw Ryan Giggs and just thought that is how you were supposed to play football. Maybe I'm naturally supposed to be right footer but being amazed at Ryan Giggs as a 7-8yr old meant that I started out with my weaker foot which turned into my favourite. It's a weird one. All I had to do was kick a ball against a wall to get good with my right to the point that I could use it competently in games and then I stopped specifically practicing for it and just made sure I used both feet as much as possible. Sooooo why the hell don't pros do this and more importantly why don't coaches at every level introduce it like a mandatory skill like technique or heading or positioning? Wesley Snijder is about the only player I know who said he doesn't have a preference.........Ajax youth. No coincidence. Did not know that about Ginola.
I'd imagine a lot of it comes down to confidence and pressure. Instinctively, they might finish with either foot in training, but out there on the pitch I'd think they're more likely to overthink. Those high on confidence, such as Van Persie (Dutch again) in his first season with us, never thought, it was always instinctive.
My mate's just finished playing footy in his late 50s. There aren't that many guys around as obsessed with the game as he is. He's got 2 young lads, 12 and 13, and he's out there every night with a ball with his lads, making them use both feet. I watched them on holiday last year in Halkidiki, passing with both feet, left, right, left, right...... His 35 year old lad's a great player. 2 footed, as you'd expect! It ain't rocket science! Just training and perseverance. If amateurs can do it, why can't clubs?
It's the greatest mystery of football. It turns average players into good players. I can only think it isn't widespread because coaching is dominated by expros who only kick with one foot so they don't think it's important to coach. I think it takes someone who is totally two footed to know first hand what an advantage it is and then be really emphatic about teaching it as a skill. When I have kids they'll be playing two footed from day one like its a rule of the game.
