Overview
- Como, which announced the policy on Monday, has confirmed that players under ten may not head the ball in training or matches.
- Raphaël Varane is identified by the club as a driving figure in the new protocol in his role overseeing youth education and development.
- Published club guidance sets out changes to training methods and match procedures, while more detailed age-tier caps on heading have been reported by media but not all specifics have been formally published by Como.
- Practical measures include reducing repetitive heading drills, using lower-inflation or rubber balls in younger groups, rolling corner and throw-in deliveries on the ground, and limiting the number of heading repetitions in older junior categories.
- The move follows staged youth-heading limits introduced by the English FA and similar proposals in Catalonia and is intended to lower concussion exposure and long-term brain risks while changing how young players learn technical skills.