US Soccer is banning headers for kids 10 and Under, and limiting headers to competition only for ages 11 to 13. In response to a lawsuit of course. What a crock of ****. Not sure how many youth games US Soccer actually watches (I'm assuming it's a lot b/c it's US SOCCER!!!!!), but in age groups 9 and under, you'll maybe see 3 or 4 headers a game, if any. At age 10, you'll see 5 or 6 a game tops. In the very youngest age groups, headers are by accident, if at all. Almost all of the injuries on the field are from players running into each other.
This is the latest nonsense move by US Soccer to change the game. In 2017, all teams will have to be reclassified based on calendar year birth dates vs. the current school year based system. The goal of this move is to "make us more competitive with international soccer". Hmmmm, so we are supposed to become more competitive with international soccer with the age group change, but can't head the ball until we are 14? Got it. And let's break up teams that have been together for years and in the same grade for the most part, to "raise the bar internationally", even though the move just puts youth teams into chaos and only seems to benefit, if at all, the kids at the very top of the system. Of course, as long as they don't head the ball.
Watch out. Football will be flag football only until high school before we know it. This is a purely reactionary move by US Soccer to a lawsuit. Nothing more, nothing less.