U11 and Younger

      US Soccer guidelines are players in U11 programs and younger shall not engage in heading, either in practice or in games.

U12 & U13 age groups

      US Soccer guidelines are for players U12 and U13 programs, that heading in training be limited to a maximum of 30 mins per week with no more than 15-20 headers per day, per week.

All coaches should be instructed to teach and emphasize the importance of proper techniques for heading the ball.

These rules apply to rec, club and travel programs.

At age group U11 and younger:

Whenever the ball strikes a player in the head, play is STOPPED. The proper restart depends upon whether the player deliberately played the  ball with his/her head. If deliberate, the proper restart in and indirect free kick to the opposing team. If this occurs within goal area, the indirect kick should be taken on the goal area line parallel to the goal line at the point nearest to where the infringement occured. If the play by the head is deemed inadvertent, then the proper restart is a dropped ball.