The Student Room Group

Football and long term brain injury

Hey there as you can see i'm a football fanatic. I've been hearing that heading a ball a lot can cause injury to the brain and well I was wondering if this is true, and can it be prevented becuase I have trained myself to head with my temple better as opposed to using the side of my head a lot in the past. I am a striker so I have to head in a lot of fast paced crosses and they do hurt and kinda partially make me dizzy but in 10 seconds it usually goes. I was wondering if this may cause L/T damage because I love the gam so much I can't give it up.
Reply 1
You only have to look at Wayne Rooney to know the answer to that one. :smile:
Reply 2
Jeff Astle, West Brom legend, died recently as a result of brain problems; it was attributed, rightly or wrongly, to him heading so many balls. But balls were so much tougher and harder on the head in those days.

If you're hurting from heading the ball, maybe your technique's wrong. Discuss your problem with a coach and they may help you practice your heading technique. And remember that sometimes a header may need just a glance, not the full impact of your forehead.

The pros head footballs for a living and they don't complain of headaches or have mental problems when they retire. Don't think long-term damage will be too severe with footballs as they are now. I will say this though; you must use the front of your forehead. Not anything else, not the side, not the top.

Happy heading!