These rules will be applicable for all our teams at Under 7s to Under 10s.

Heading Trial Information

NCYFL have signed up for the FA trial but only for U7-U11. U12’s will continue as they would normally. Guidance will be provided for managers, players, those who officiate games and spectators. The FA will also want feedback on the experience from all those involved.

Why are they doing the trial? This is to align the game experience with training where heading the ball has already ceased. Player Welfare, this is to mitigate any risk that might be linked to heading the ball.

What are the law changes?

• Deliberately heading the ball will be an offence that will result in an indirect free kick being taken from the point where the ball was headed. If it is a defender who does this in the penalty area then the indirect free kick is taken from the penalty spot. The deliberate heading is the only instance in mini soccer where an indirect free kick is used to restart the game.
• Red / Yellow cards
  • Yellow awarded if the deliberate heading is persistent, or the action interferes with a promising attack.
  • Red awarded if it the deliberate heading denies a goal or obvious goal scoring opportunity.

What is a deliberate header?

• A deliberate header / heading will usually involve a player moving their head and / or body towards the ball and / or into the path of the ball.
• When judging whether a header is deliberate account should be taken as to whether the player had time / opportunity to avoid the ball. This will be influenced by the speed of the ball and the distance between the player and another player who is playing a ball or where the ball is a rebound off the goal posts / crossbar.