The Football Association has announced fresh measures to limit heading in football, following increasing concern about the long-term impact repeated headers may have on players’ brain health.

The move comes after new research suggested that heading the ball creates a brief pulse of energy that passes into the brain at the moment of contact. While each individual impact may be minor, experts warn that repeated exposure over time could contribute to neurological damage.

One major study, known as the FIELD study, found that former professional footballers are about 3.5 times more likely to develop neurodegenerative diseases than the wider population.

In response, the FA has introduced a phased ban on heading for children under the age of 11 and issued updated guidance aimed at reducing high-force headers during training sessions.

The new recommendations focus especially on limiting headers from corners, free-kicks, and similar set-piece drills where repeated impact is common.

FA Chief Medical Officer Charlotte Cowie said the latest findings offer valuable insight into a complex issue and support ongoing efforts to better understand the risks associated with heading.

She added that the research has been shared with FIFA and UEFA, with continued calls for a coordinated global approach to player safety.

Elsewhere, the Scottish Football Association has gone further by banning heading in training on the day before and after matches in the professional game.

Football authorities say the new rules are intended to reduce potential risks while further studies continue into the long-term effects of heading at all levels of the sport.