No More Headers! Como’s Radical Academy Rule Aims To Safeguard Youngsters
No More Headers! Como’s Radical Academy Rule Aims To Safeguard Youngsters Published By, Last Updated: July 28, 2026, 14:07 IST Como have banned heading for
No More Headers! Como’s Radical Academy Rule Aims To Safeguard Youngsters Published By, Last Updated: July 28, 2026, 14:07 IST Como have banned heading for players up to Under-11 level after Raphael Varane's concussion warnings, introducing sweeping youth football rules prioritising brain health. Rapid Read Raphael Varane coaching youngsters at Como 1907 (X) Serie A club Como 1907 are taking youth football in a very different direction — and no, traditionalists probably won’t love it. The Italian side has announced a sweeping overhaul of its academy coaching programme, banning heading for players up to Under-11 level after consultation with former France defender Raphael Varane, whose own career was repeatedly interrupted by concussion-related issues. The new policy goes well beyond simply removing headers from matches.
For Under-8, Under-9 and Under-10 teams, heading is completely prohibited in both training and games. Even throw-ins and corners have been redesigned, with youngsters instructed to keep the ball on the ground instead of launching it into crowded penalty areas. What Are The Exact Guidelines Set In Place? The restrictions ease only gradually. Under-11 players will begin learning heading technique towards the end of the season using lightweight rubber balls. Under-12 players are limited to a single heading session each month, with a maximum of five headers. Under-13 players can only head the ball during training—not in competitive matches. Varane Drawing From Experience Varane, who retired in 2024 after decorated spells with France, Real Madrid and Manchester United, said his own experiences shaped the recommendations.
“From my experience, when I was 16 I had two big concussions so I was aware of the risk," Varane said. “I had the luck during my career to meet some very specific staff; some medical professionals. I learned a lot from them. I learned a lot from them about the effect of concussion." Como insist the objective is straightforward: protect developing brains before introducing repeated impacts. The club’s head of player and coaches’ development explained the reasoning behind the phased approach. “At a young age when everything is developing it’s really important to delay the amount of heading and the amount of impact there is." “By delaying it, bringing it in gradually over a number of years, we can help protect the players." News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit About the Author Siddarth Sriram After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas.
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