Football: Why a total ban on young children heading the ball would be better – John McLellan

Ban on heading in youngsters’ football training but not matches doesn’t make sense; the SNP have lost their claim to moral superiority; and Edinburgh council lets Normaan Springford take the hit in Quaich Project row, writes John McLellan
By John McLellan
Published 27th Feb 2020, 11:40 BST
Does the ban on heading go far enough? (Picture: Alistair Liniford)Does the ban on heading go far enough? (Picture: Alistair Liniford)
Does the ban on heading go far enough? (Picture: Alistair Liniford)

Training for any sport is not just about being fit enough to play but game preparation and knowing what to expect. So it’s hard to understand the logic behind the new ban on heading a ball in under-11 training but allowing it in matches.

Without preparation the children are more likely to suffer injuries during games if they don’t know how to deal with a high ball properly and their necks are not strengthened to absorb the impact.

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It would be far more sensible to ban heading altogether until it can be introduced during controlled coaching, the same way as rugby only gradually introduces full contact, contested scrums and rucking.

And by encouraging young players to keep the ball on the ground and developing skills with their feet, Scotland would have more to celebrate than the odd win over San Marino.

SNP’s moral superiority?

Mhairi Black MP accuses parents of homophobia because they were concerned about their children’s school being visited by a drag queen called Flowjob, yet Education Secretary John Swinney can’t bring himself to criticise her.

Finance secretary Derek Mackay quits because of a blizzard of inappropriate messages to a 16-year-old and party apparatchiks tried to close the story down.

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Ex-Holyrood minister Mark McDonald was forced to resign from the party over sexual harassment allegations but is still an MSP.

The SNP’s days of claiming moral superiority are gone.

Council keeps head down over Quaich row

Norman Springford’s resignation from chairing the Quaich Project to replace the Ross Bandstand was an honourable, if unnecessary step, given its supposedly shocking sponsorship packages made it clear the aim was to fund the enhancement of a public space for public use but without public money.

This project is a partnership with the council which appears to be keeping its collective head below the parapet while Mr Springford takes the hit, but given the way the council has tried to pass off the Christmas Market fiasco as simply the result of internal miscommunication, should anyone be surprised?

Related topics:SNPCouncilFootballEdinburghJohn Swinney