Youth Heading Guidelines: A Coach & Parent Guide
Federations around the world have rewritten youth heading rules over the last decade. Here's what US Soccer, the English FA, and IFAB say — plus a practical framework for introducing heading safely.
The current rules by federation
US Soccer (United States)
- U11 and under: No deliberate heading in matches or training.
- U12 and U13: No heading in matches. Training limited to 30 minutes per week and no more than 15–20 headers per player per week.
- U14 and up: Heading permitted; volume monitoring encouraged.
The English FA (England)
- U7–U11: No deliberate heading in training.
- U12: Maximum 1 session per week, maximum 5 headers per player.
- U13–U16: Graduated increase — no more than one heading session per week.
- U18+: Recommended cap of 10 higher-force headers per week in training.
IFAB / FIFA
IFAB has not written heading age restrictions into the Laws of the Game, but supports national federation research. FIFA endorses graduated introduction and matches most European federations' recent guidance.
A safe introduction framework (U12–U14)
- Week 1–2: Neck strength only — chin tucks, isometric holds, resistance band work. No ball contact.
- Week 3–4: Foam ball or under-inflated size 4. Toss-and-head from close range, standing only. Max 5 reps per session.
- Week 5–6: Standing partner headers with a soft ball. Emphasis on contact point and eyes open.
- Week 7+: Introduce short jumps and low-height serves. Still under 10 reps per session.
Warning signs to stop immediately
- Any headache during or after training.
- Dizziness, nausea, or blurred vision.
- The player flinches or closes their eyes repeatedly — a sign the ball is too hard or too fast.
- Neck pain — indicates poor technique or under-developed neck strength.
Concussion protocol
If a player takes an unusually hard header, or two headers clash heads, remove them from training immediately and follow your federation's concussion protocol. When in doubt, sit them out — no header, no game, is worth long-term brain risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
At what age can kids start heading a soccer ball?
US Soccer bans deliberate heading in matches and training for players 10 and under, and limits it for 11–13. The English FA has similar guidance. Deliberate heading is generally reintroduced at U12 with strict volume limits.
How many headers per week are safe for youth players?
The English FA's 2020 guidance suggests no more than one heading training session per week for U12–U16, with a low volume cap (roughly 5–10 headers per session at U12, increasing gradually with age).
What if a header happens accidentally in a youth match?
It's not penalised as long as it wasn't deliberate. The concern is repeated, coached impacts — not the occasional accidental contact during play.
Are there safer balls for teaching heading?
Yes. Under-inflated size 4 balls, soft training balls, or foam headers all reduce impact force while teaching the same technique.