Footballs could be designed to reduce impact of heading – scientists

“There are examples of balls that transfer high or low energy through all eras of play” said Andy Harland, a professor of sports technology at Loughborough.

“There is no trend that suggests the magnitude of energy transfer is increasing or decreasing over time.

“Our evidence suggests that high energy pressure wave transfer was not limited to leather balls, so, if this energy is associated with neurodegenerative disease, it is not a problem that has gone away with modern balls.”

This comes with football under mounting pressure to take more action on brain injuries, and renewed scrutiny on the relationship between heading and neurodegenerative illnesses.

In January, a senior coroner declared that repeatedly heading footballs is “likely” to have contributed to the brain disease which was a factor in the death of former Leeds United and Manchester United defender Gordon McQueen.

McQueen, who was diagnosed with vascular dementia and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), which is caused by repeated head impacts, died in 2023 aged 70.

Former England striker Jeff Astle, who died following years of neurological symptoms, is considered the first footballer whose death was shown to have been impacted by heading footballs.

“These findings provide opportunities to work towards ball designs and testing specifications that minimise energy transfer into the brain”, added Phillips.

“We’re hoping that this discovery provides some valuable information that could look more specifically at the potential causes of the disease that we’re seeing in retired players.

“At the moment, we see correlations and statistical observations about them and their careers in the game.

“As yet, it’s unexplained as to what exactly it is about the collision with a football in a header that is causing damage to the brain, and it may well be many years until we can reach that point. But I think this discovery allows us to focus specifically on something which we’ve never measured before.

“Most excitingly, it gives us the opportunity to make changes to the ball. This energy transfer that we’ve measured is separate from the big picture of the ball hitting the head and the player’s head recoiling. It is over at the very beginning of the collision and represents a very discreet pulse of energy that passes into the brain.”

In 2019 the ‘Field’ study, funded by the FA and the Professional Footballers’ Association, found that footballers were 3.5 times more likely to suffer from neurodegenerative disorders.

Since then, the FA has brought in a phased ban of heading in under-11s football and says it is investing in objective and robust research to get a better understanding of the issue. It has also issued guidelines to clubs on limiting high force headers in training, such as from balls which come at speed from free-kicks and corners.

The Scottish FA has gone further, banning heading the day before and after matches in the professional adult game.

FA Chief Medical Officer, Charlotte Cowie, said, “This new independent research provides us with innovative and previously undiscovered insight, and it is part of our ongoing commitment to gain a greater understanding of this highly complex area.

“The results of the study have also been shared with Fifa and Uefa, and we continue to welcome a global approach to support further research in this important area.”