Croydon Kings technical director Mark Brazzale believes the banning of junior heading will change the game entirely

Three major football nations have recently banned heading for Under 10 players to protect them while in the ‘foundation phase’. It has raised questions over what the changes will mean for soccer in Australia into the future. Children aged 11 and under won’t be allowed to head soccer balls during training in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland almost five years after the US outlawed the skill for children under 10. A joint ruling between the English, Northern Irish and Scottish Football Associations on Tuesday advised “no heading in training in the foundation phase”. “The game could turn out to be like futsal where you can’t head the ball,’’ Brazzale said. “We seriously have to look at it, do we want to? “No, because heading is part of the game. “I don’t know what the answer is, we have to do our studies a bit more, find out where the problem is. “Is it like walking across the road and the chances of being hit by a car, because we’re taking away a skill away from the game. “It could kill the game a bit, what do you do with set pieces, corners.” The US introduced the rule for players 10 years old or younger. They cannot be taught heading or intentionally head the ball in a game, but players up to 12-years-old can receive heading instruction in training, which is restricted to 30 minutes per week. A Football Federation Australia (FFA) spokesperson said the sporting body will be reviewing its guidelines “in light of the latest developments”. “FFA is aware of the announcement by the (English) Football Association (FA) updating heading guidance for players under the age of 12 during training sessions,” the spokesperson said. “Player welfare is of paramount importance to FFA, and we continue to monitor research and liaise with all relevant sporting and governing organisations, including the FA and world governing body FIFA.” US Soccer changed its rules after a players and parents class-action lawsuit in 2014 against FIFA, US Soccer and the American Youth Soccer Organisation in 2014. The new heading initiative coincided just four days out from the International Football Association Board’s 134th annual general meeting in Belfast. Concussion is atop of the agenda where the body – the lawmakers of the game – is considering a trial in England for senior football. The new proposal wants to allow concussion substitutions during a three-minute assessment period. This substitution will be beyond the three substitutions currently allowed during a 90-minute match. University of Glasgow experts conducted research and found ex-professional football players are three-and-a-half times more likely to die of degenerative brain disease.