Redesigned ball could reduce heading impact – scientists

Study explores energy transfer during football headers

Researchers are examining the link between heading footballs and neurodegenerative conditions. A new study, supported by the Football Association, suggests that footballs can be engineered to lessen the force delivered to the brain during headers. Loughborough University’s investigation found that certain ball designs can generate up to 55 times more energy transfer into the frontal region of the head compared to others.

The study evaluated impacts from a variety of balls used over the last century, using a high-tech surrogate head model. Sensors inside the model detected a unique pressure wave that enters the brain upon contact, an observation previously undocumented. Key factors influencing this energy transfer include the ball’s construction, velocity, and whether it is dry or damp.

“Some balls transfer high energy through all eras of play,” explained Andy Harland, a sports technology professor at Loughborough University. “There’s no clear pattern indicating energy levels are rising or falling over time. Our data shows that modern balls aren’t inherently safer than older ones when it comes to this pressure wave.”

Implications for player safety

The research highlights the need for further analysis of how ball design affects brain injury risks. Dr. Ieuan Phillips, the lead investigator, emphasized that these findings could guide the development of balls with reduced energy transfer. “This discovery lets us focus on a previously unmeasured aspect of heading,” he noted. “The energy pulse occurs immediately at impact, distinct from the overall movement of the head.”

Recent concerns about brain injuries have led to changes in youth football. In 2022, the FA began testing a ban on deliberate heading in matches for players under 12. A 2024 update extended this policy to youth games. The study adds to growing pressure on governing bodies to address long-term risks linked to repeated headers.

Former Leeds and Manchester United defender Gordon McQueen, who died in 2023 at age 70 from vascular dementia, was cited by a coroner as a case where heading may have contributed to his condition. Jeff Astle, an English striker, is recognized as the first player whose death was directly tied to the effects of heading. These examples underscore the urgency of understanding and mitigating the risks.

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