Should Kids Still Be Heading the Ball? What is the Dutch Sports Council Thinking?!
This week the Netherlands Sports Council made headlines with a bold proposal: ban heading in football for children under 12, strongly discourage it until 18, and make helmets mandatory in sports like skating where falls are common.
At first glance, it might sound like overreach. Football has always been about headers, right? But when you step back and look at what the research says, it’s hard to ignore the case for change.
What’s really at stake
Science is catching up with what many parents have quietly worried about for years: repeated blows to the head—even the “small ones” that don’t cause a concussion—add up. Studies of former professional footballers have shown higher rates of dementia and other brain diseases later in life. The Dutch Health Council reviewed this evidence just months ago and concluded that repeated head impacts are a risk we can no longer brush aside.
And here’s the thing: children are not just smaller versions of adults. Their neck and shoulder muscles are weaker, their bodies less developed, and their brains still growing. That means a routine header in an under-11 match can create more force on the head than the exact same ball would in an adult game.
The neck strength myth
Some argue that kids just need to “build stronger necks.” It’s true that stronger muscles help with stability—but the latest studies show it’s not enough. Technique, timing, and, most importantly, limiting the number of headers matter much more. If children are heading dozens of long balls every training session, no amount of gym work will make that safe.
What other countries are already doing
The Netherlands isn’t the first to take this step.
In the United States, kids under 11 aren’t allowed to head the ball at all, and 12–13 year olds are limited to just a few headers in practice.
In England, football authorities are phasing out deliberate heading in matches for under-11s, and even older age groups are kept to strict limits.
These measures don’t “ruin the game.” If anything, they push young players to develop better passing, control, and creativity—skills that last a lifetime.
What this means for parents and coaches
Whether or not the Dutch government adopts the Council’s recommendations, the message is clear: be cautious with heading, especially in children. That means:
Keeping headers out of the youngest age groups.
Avoiding drills that send kids under high, fast balls.
Teaching safe technique once they’re older—forehead contact, body alignment, and bracing the neck at the right moment.
And always, always following concussion guidelines: if in doubt, sit them out.
Why the conversation matters
Football is the world’s game. For many kids, it’s where friendships are made and confidence is built. But loving the sport doesn’t mean ignoring the risks. The Netherlands Sports Council isn’t trying to ban joy from the pitch—it’s trying to make sure our children can play today without paying a price tomorrow.
As parents, coaches, and supporters, we should see this not as the end of tradition, but as the next step in protecting the future of the sport we love.
Editorial note: The research cited here comes from recent reviews by the Dutch Health Council (2025), international concussion consensus statements (Amsterdam 2022), and youth football guidelines from the FA (UK) and US Soccer.