The leather ball It is already history in the training sessions of the lower categories of Ajax (between 8 and 12 years old). The Amsterdam institution thus intends to minimize the risk that the youngest suffer impacts to the head that can cause brain damage with serious long-term consequences.
A spokesperson for the club He spoke out about the ball shift, as the national daily Trouw reports: “We monitor scientific research in this area. Only after sixteen years is the head sufficiently prepared to suffer certain balls. The youngest children in our institution should not be exposed to certain risks, especially if they are part of a routine “. The Ajax did not want to give more explanations about this decision.
International studies show that balls to the head of a child can cause brain damage afterwards when families no longer have the ability to relate it to this sport. The University of Glasgow indicated in 2019 that soccer players are 3.5 times more likely to develop brain injury than the rest of the population.
Outstanding names in English football like David Beckham or Wayne Rooney have already asked for more research on this topic. Liverpool coach Jürgen Klopp joined in the words of the cracks and his Chelsea colleague, Frank Lampard, announced that he would change his training methods to take care of this aspect. The English players' union PFA asked all clubs to do so as well.