EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, heading the ball is now banned in U12 and younger.  This ban extends to all training, practices and games.  Restrictions have been placed on the amount of headers in training allowed in U14. 

New Rule Summary: HEADING THE BALL

1.       Consistent with the US Soccer mandates on heading the ball, heading is banned for ALL division players U11 (including U12 divisions without a single age division) and below in both practices and games.
a.      An indirect free kick will be awarded to the opposing team if a player deliberately touches the ball with his/her head during a game.
b.      The indirect free kick is to be taken from the place where the player touched the ball with his/her head.
c.       An indirect free kick awarded to the attacking team inside the opposing team’s goal area, must be taken on the goal area line parallel to the goal line at the point nearest to the where the player touched the ball with his/her head.
d.      Neither cautions nor send offs shall be issued for persistent infringement or denying an obvious goal scoring opportunity related to the heading infraction.
2.       Heading for players in U14 age division is limited to a maximum of thirty (30) minutes per week with no more than 15-20 headers, per player. There is no restriction on heading in matches in U14 division.

This ban is nationwide and effects all youth soccer affiliated with US Soccer (including AYSO, USYSA, CYSA, CalSouth and all leagues including EXTRA, Area Q, CSL, SCDSL).  For more information and the full text of the rule please visit the page on the Area Q website: New Rules and Regulations: Heading the Ball

Learning how to prevent, diagnose, treat and recover from a concussion has been a primary focus of AYSO for years.  Region 96 strongly encourages all volunteers to become concussion awareness certified.  Take the CDC Online Concussion Awareness certification course at www.aysotraining.org now.