Football teams to trial new mouthguards as part of a study into the effects of heading balls
Liverpool and Manchester City womens’ and youth teams are set to trial new mouthguards as part of a study to determine the effects of heading the ball.
The innovative mouthguards, which are already used in rugby, collect real-time data, which will provide valuable information for researchers working on projects related to the impact of heading in football. This study is part of a Premier League research project, which could provide crucial data about the links between playing football and developing brain disorders.
A study carried out in 2019 revealed that professional footballers were more likely to experience neurodegenerative brain disease. Recently, there have been accusations that football has been slow to take action to reduce risks associated with heading. Representatives from the Premier League are hoping that the data from the mouthguard study will be available within months.
There have already been changes to heading rules and recommendations within the youth game in addition to new protocols for assessing and managing concussion, but there are concerns that more needs to be done to protect footballers and lower risks associated with developing diseases that affect the brain.
Chief medical officer at the Football Association, Charlotte Cowie, suggested that the project indicates that football is “moving towards” changes in protocols for heading. The specialist mouthguards, which will be worn by youth and female players, will enable research teams to analyse the impact of different types of header and how forces affect the brain. The findings will be utilised, along with monitoring of effects linked to changes brought about within the youth game to restrict heading, to inform policies and regulations in the future.
Join this Discussion