On Me 'ead Son

Palace Old Geezer Midhurst 10 Mar 21 11.00am
There has been a lot of debate recently about the damaging effects of heading the ball and with it being blamed for causing Dementia in ex-footballers. I have referred on here before about the difference in the weight of today's balls compared with the balls of yesteryear. It's not really a surprise that frequent heading did damage. When I played as a schoolboy I often ducked rather than head the ball. Guess that's one of the reasons I played mostly in the B team. Anyway, the reason for this thread is to explore what you think about the game with no heading. In his Times column today Tony Cascarino makes the case to ban it even though he likes to see it and quotes Benteke's goal against Spurs as a good example. Personally, whilst I can see the risk I find it hard to conceive of a game of football with no heading. Is it really possible to play football without without using your head? Dad and I watched games standing on the muddy slope of the Holmesdale Road end. He cheered and I rattled.
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Palace Old Geezer

Midhurst 10 Mar 21 11.00am

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There has been a lot of debate recently about the damaging effects of heading the ball and with it being blamed for causing Dementia in ex-footballers.

I have referred on here before about the difference in the weight of today's balls compared with the balls of yesteryear. It's not really a surprise that frequent heading did damage. When I played as a schoolboy I often ducked rather than head the ball. Guess that's one of the reasons I played mostly in the B team.

Anyway, the reason for this thread is to explore what you think about the game with no heading. In his Times column today Tony Cascarino makes the case to ban it even though he likes to see it and quotes Benteke's goal against Spurs as a good example.

Personally, whilst I can see the risk I find it hard to conceive of a game of football with no heading.

Is it really possible to play football without without using your head?

Dad and I watched games standing on the muddy slope of the Holmesdale Road end. He cheered and I rattled.

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Tom-the-eagle Croydon 10 Mar 21 11.04am
Trouble is there’s risk to anything. Rugby, boxing, horse racing, rock climbing, even crossing the road. There’s only so much safety can be put in place. Otherwise we may as well all sit at home, safely in a box. "It feels much better than it ever did, much more sensitive." John Wayne Bobbit
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Tom-the-eagle

Croydon 10 Mar 21 11.04am

Trouble is there’s risk to anything. Rugby, boxing, horse racing, rock climbing, even crossing the road.

There’s only so much safety can be put in place. Otherwise we may as well all sit at home, safely in a box.

"It feels much better than it ever did, much more sensitive." John Wayne Bobbit

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Teddy Eagle 10 Mar 21 11.09am
Originally posted by Palace Old Geezer There has been a lot of debate recently about the damaging effects of heading the ball and with it being blamed for causing Dementia in ex-footballers. I have referred on here before about the difference in the weight of today's balls compared with the balls of yesteryear. It's not really a surprise that frequent heading did damage. When I played as a schoolboy I often ducked rather than head the ball. Guess that's one of the reasons I played mostly in the B team. Anyway, the reason for this thread is to explore what you think about the game with no heading. In his Times column today Tony Cascarino makes the case to ban it even though he likes to see it and quotes Benteke's goal against Spurs as a good example. Personally, whilst I can see the risk I find it hard to conceive of a game of football with no heading. Is it really possible to play football without without using your head? It’s technically possible, as in 5 a side, but how many would want to watch an 11 a side version of that? Heading has been banned in training for under-12s. [Link]
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Teddy Eagle

10 Mar 21 11.09am

Originally posted by Palace Old Geezer

There has been a lot of debate recently about the damaging effects of heading the ball and with it being blamed for causing Dementia in ex-footballers.

Personally, whilst I can see the risk I find it hard to conceive of a game of football with no heading.

Is it really possible to play football without without using your head?

It’s technically possible, as in 5 a side, but how many would want to watch an 11 a side version of that?
Heading has been banned in training for under-12s.

[Link]

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Palace Old Geezer Midhurst 10 Mar 21 11.10am
Originally posted by Tom-the-eagle Trouble is there’s risk to anything. Rugby, boxing, horse racing, rock climbing, even crossing the road. There’s only so much safety can be put in place. Otherwise we may as well all sit at home, safely in a box. Of course, you're so right. That's what makes this such a tricky issue to deal with.
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Palace Old Geezer

Midhurst 10 Mar 21 11.10am

Originally posted by Tom-the-eagle

Trouble is there’s risk to anything. Rugby, boxing, horse racing, rock climbing, even crossing the road.

There’s only so much safety can be put in place. Otherwise we may as well all sit at home, safely in a box.

Of course, you're so right. That's what makes this such a tricky issue to deal with.

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PalazioVecchio south pole 10 Mar 21 3.57pm
consider the mess that was Muhammad Ali from all the boxing. i would not wish that upon anybody. If the scientific evidence is strong, ban headers. when it happens to both teams, no problem - no advantage. think of all the other sports that never head the ball....rugby, tennis, basketball, no problem. Eze Peasy at Anfield....
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PalazioVecchio

south pole 10 Mar 21 3.57pm

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consider the mess that was Muhammad Ali from all the boxing.

i would not wish that upon anybody. If the scientific evidence is strong, ban headers.

when it happens to both teams, no problem - no advantage.

think of all the other sports that never head the ball....rugby, tennis, basketball, no problem.

Eze Peasy at Anfield....

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Palace Old Geezer Midhurst 12 Mar 21 11.19am
Another fine header scored by the youngster Diallo for Man U last night. We would not have witnessed it if heading were banned. I'm not necessarily making a case for retaining heading as part of the game, I just find it hard to imagine how the game would be played without it. Of course it would be possible to keep the ball on the ground, or at chest height, but not the same spectacle for us watching the game. If the medical evidence of damage caused by heading a modern day football is overwhelming then change we must. But, as Tom said in his post, so many other sports have risk attached and if football were singled out I fear it would be a further step towards sanitising our lives in general. Dad and I watched games standing on the muddy slope of the Holmesdale Road end. He cheered and I rattled.
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Palace Old Geezer

Midhurst 12 Mar 21 11.19am

Another fine header scored by the youngster Diallo for Man U last night. We would not have witnessed it if heading were banned.

I'm not necessarily making a case for retaining heading as part of the game, I just find it hard to imagine how the game would be played without it.

Of course it would be possible to keep the ball on the ground, or at chest height, but not the same spectacle for us watching the game.

If the medical evidence of damage caused by heading a modern day football is overwhelming then change we must. But, as Tom said in his post, so many other sports have risk attached and if football were singled out I fear it would be a further step towards sanitising our lives in general.

Dad and I watched games standing on the muddy slope of the Holmesdale Road end. He cheered and I rattled.

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