When asked by sportschau.de, Zimmermann clarified: “We’d rather use common sense than bans. There will always be headers in the higher youth and adult leagues, but it’s important to train the right posture, body tension and the right point of contact with the ball with the forehead at an early stage.”
DFB talent promoter Hirte: “You will hardly see any more headers”
Markus Hirte, the sporting director for talent promotion at the DFB, explains: “If you stick to the recommendations with the smaller fields, smaller training groups and small goals, you will hardly see any more headers in the children’s area. Long balls, crosses and these things only play a role in the higher youth area.”
Scientists around the world had recently spoken out in favor of a ban on children playing headball, as a connection between various recurring head injuries in sport and neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer’s is suspected.
Study links to Alzheimer’s and dementia
A Scottish study in 2019 found an increased risk of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease in footballers – the number was significantly higher, especially in central defenders. England, Scotland and Northern Ireland have had a ban on headers in training for children under the age of 11 since the beginning of 2020.