Wednesday, July 28, 2021 at 13:00• Mart Oude Nijeweeme • Last update: 13:04

Players in the Premier League will be allowed to produce a maximum of ten headers per training week from next season, the English football league announced on Wednesday. The new measure is the result of months of research into the effect of headers on the mental and physical condition of players. The guidelines apply to clubs in the Premier League, EFL, Barclays Women’s Super League, England national team players and all teams playing in England on an amateur basis.

The new guidelines have been developed on the basis of multiple studies carried out in recent months on behalf of various parties, the Premier League writes on its website. “It is recommended to perform up to ten higher power headers in a training week,” it reads. “These are usually headers after a long pass (over 35 meters) or from crosses, corners and free kicks. This recommendation is made to protect the wellbeing of players and will be reviewed regularly as further research is done to learn about the impact of headers in football.”

The Premier League recommends that clubs develop player profiles that take into account gender, age, playing position, number of headers per match and type of headers. “In addition, we encourage people within the coaching staff to work with players after every match to ensure they have sufficient time to recover from a header. The Premier League, in conjunction with partners, will continue to provide guidance to club staff on ways they can adapt the training.”

English Football Association director Mark Bullingham is delighted with the latest guidelines. “We already have the most comprehensive guidelines in the world for youth players and now we are introducing the most comprehensive guidelines for seniors anywhere,” he says. “For all players, at every level. It is important to know that medical evidence has shown that football and other sports have a positive effect on both the mental and physical health of people. However, these measures have been taken based on several studies. Further medical research should determine the exact risks. In the meantime, this reduces a potential risk factor.”