{
  "abstract": "Regular participation in sports, such as football (soccer), has positive effects on both physical 1 and mental health.2 Despite these benefits, concerns have been raised about the potential neurological damage caused by playing football. Acute head/neck injuries in youth football have been reported to occur at a rate of 0.25 injuries per 1000 hours played,3 which is substantially lower than lower leg injuries (4.08 and 6.54 injuries per 1000 hours played, in males and females, respectively).4 While unproven, there are concerns that long-term exposure to repeated ‘subconcussive’ impacts (without the presence of injury or concussion) could alter brain white matter structure, but the potential for purposeful repetitive heading of the football to cause negative effects on the brain remains uncertain and under-researched.5 6 Although there have been significant steps made by governing bodies to reduce the number of concussions associated with football playing,7 the potential health risks caused by repeated head impacts that do not result in concussion remain unknown.8 9 This editorial explores the current evidential landscape regarding heading in football to facilitate and inform carefully planned future research.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Clinical Research Division, Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK",
        "Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Science, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Shaun Sutehall"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Bishop Heber High School, Malpas, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Lulu Ralison"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "University of Leeds, Leeds, UK",
        "Medical Department, Liverpool Football Club, Liverpool, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Jonathan Power"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Clinical Research Division, Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK",
        "Department of Women's and Children’s Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Daniel B Hawcutt"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Is it time for evidence-based protective strategies for heading in youth football?",
  "uid": "d3050469-da9b-536e-b34c-7c4fa46f2090"
}