The news that kids under the age of 12 are no longer allowed to head a ball in training is welcomed because I do think there is a link between ex-footballers and heading.
Going back to the 60s or 70s and the balls were wet and heavy - that must have an impact.
I was playing from the age of nine - Saturdays and Sundays, right the way through for the school district, and apprenticeships, thats over 1000 games heading the ball - there has to be some sort of link as you get to 60 or 70 years or age and the impact it has on your brain.
The link to dementia and Alzheimer's, there's lots of medical tests people are doing.
I'm filling in questionnaires myself.
But at that young age, it's about enjoying yourself and heading shouldn't really come into it.
You look at academies and abroad - they very rarely head the ball, it's all on the ground, and they have small sided games.
The emphasis is on skill and touches, and enjoying it at a young age.
I wouldn't remove heading from the modern game, but I think with a lot of youngsters like the U10s, there isn't a need to really head the ball.
So I agree with everything that they've put into process.
I do think it's an art form to head a football, and the football today they're lighter and the modern day footballer won't be impacted like those who played up to the late 80s or early 90s but it's such an important issue.
