Mind Your Head! UEFA’s age-by-age guide to safer heading
Wednesday, November 11, 2026
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Heading is part of football. Players can score goals, clear attacks and build confidence. But like any other skill, it needs to be taught at the right time and in the right way.
That’s the aim of the new UEFA Youth Heading Framework: to help young players learn to head the ball safely, confidently and correctly, while giving coaches practical tools they can use in everyday training.
We want to make heading safer by teaching it progressively, reducing unnecessary exposure and putting player welfare at the centre of every session.
The new framework is based on a simple idea: young players should not learn heading through repetition alone. They need the right ball, the right technique, the right physical preparation and the confidence to speak up if something doesn’t feel right.
Our guidance, developed alongside medical and technical experts, encourages coaches to limit repetitions in training and focus on quality over quantity. It also stresses that many head injuries are linked to player collisions, making awareness, communication and safe spacing essential.
Ball weight, speed and pressure all affect impact, while strong neck and core muscles can help reduce head movement during ball contact. That is why the framework combines technical guidance with age-appropriate strengthening exercises and clear health protocols.
The framework has been developed in partnership with the German Football Association (DFB), Professor Tim Meyer, Professor Claus Reinsberger, Damir Dugancik and Martin Hirte.
Age-by-age guidance
For the youngest players, the focus should be on fun, coordination and confidence with the ball. We recommend foam balls or balloons for heading-related activities, with no formal heading drills. Headers may happen incidentally in small-sided games, but they should not be coached or encouraged
From under-10, heading can be introduced carefully through short, controlled, unopposed drills. Our guidance uses the simple idea of "my age, my headers", meaning a player’s weekly technique repetitions should remain low and age-appropriate. If a player is ten years old, their activity should be limited to ten headers per week.
Players should use lighter balls for heading practice, start from short distances and focus on basic technique rather than power. From under-12, neck and shoulder exercises can be added to warm-ups.
At under-14 and under-15, players can begin to integrate heading into more realistic football situations, but still with limited repetitions and careful supervision. Lightweight balls should be used for heading drills, full neck and core warm-ups, and the introduction of passive pressure to develop awareness and communication
This is also when players should learn that heading safely means more than making contact. It means scanning, balancing, calling for the ball and deciding whether heading is the right choice.
From under-16, heading can become part of the full technical and tactical game, including crossing drills, set pieces and aerial duels. But the framework stresses that responsibility increases too. Players should maintain neck and core work, manage heading volume and debrief after drills or matches.
Older players are also encouraged to recognise when not to head. If a defender is too close, the player is off-balance or the ball is behind them, controlling with the chest or foot may be the smarter and safer option. Heading is part of the game, but smart decision-making is part of safe heading.
Five principles of safe heading
Use the right ball
We recommend age-appropriate balls for matches and lighter balls for heading practice. Young players should start with balloons or foam balls, while older age groups progress gradually towards normal match balls. Coaches should also check ball pressure and avoid wet or overly hard balls.
Progress gradually
Small-sided games can help young players develop coordination, timing, spatial awareness and body control while naturally limiting long aerial balls. The framework recommends introducing heading step by step, from no formal heading for the youngest players to controlled practice, passive pressure and eventually full match integration.
Build strength and stability
Neck and core exercises should be part of heading preparation. Short warm-up activities such as chin tucks, planks, side planks, balance catches and partner resistance exercises, adapted to the players’ age and stage of development, are all recommended.
Teach technique step by step
Heading is not just a head movement. It involves the whole body, and involves orientation, balance, controlled contact, follow-through and communication. Players should see the ball early, keep their eyes open, use the forehead, push from the legs and call for the ball to help avoid collisions.
Prioritise health and awareness
Players should immediately tell their coach if they experience symptoms such as headache, dizziness, blurred vision, nausea, confusion or feeling unsteady. Coaches should remove the player from play, inform the medical team or parent/guardian, ensure no same-day return and only allow a return after medical clearance.
Key learning resources
Support for coaches, clubs and players
Safe heading is not only about what happens when the ball arrives. It is about preparation, communication, decision-making and care.
The UEFA Youth Heading Framework is supported by practical resources for coaches and clubs, including a video series and toolkits covering safe heading, neck and core activation, step-by-step technique, ball pressure and progressive learning.
Together, these resources are designed to help coaches plan sessions, choose the right equipment, teach proper technique and create an environment where players feel confident speaking up. With the right support, they can learn an important skill while protecting their long-term welfare.