Adult footballers in Scotland, it transpires, will be banned from heading the ball in training the day before and after games.

Earlier this week, the Scottish FA issued new guidance which comes after ground-breaking research by the University of Glasgow's Dr Willie Stewart found football players are up to three-and-half times more likely to die from brain disease and are more susceptible to neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia with underlying links to the excessive heading of the ball during training and matches.

All Scottish clubs have also been advised to limit exercises that involve repetitive heading to one weekly session. This includes activities such as crossing, finishing and set-piece practice.

The SFA banned heading for under-12s altogether in 2020 and Scotland was also one of the first countries to adopt concussion guidelines after the 'if in doubt, sit them out' campaign.

The governing body has also surveyed a number of SPFL and SWPL clubs in order to get a clearer understanding of current heading practices within the professional game. A follow-up survey was then conducted with managers and coaches with over 70 per cent in support of heading guidelines being introduced.

In another survey, this time of players carried out in conjunction with PFA Scotland, some 64 per cent believed that heading should be limited in training.

“The Scottish FA believes this research should shape the thinking in the adult game - not just domestically but across the world," said Scottish FA chief executive Ian Maxwell.

"I am grateful to everyone in the professional game – clubs, coaches and managers, and players – for contributing to the latest research which has culminated in these new guidelines. The publishing of the guidelines represents our ongoing commitment to player welfare.”

Dr John MacLean, the Scottish FA's chief medical consultant added: “It is important to reiterate that while the FIELD study [from the University of Glasgow] was not designed to identify the causes of this increased risk, both head injury and heading have been suggested as possible contributing factors to neurodegenerative disease.

“While the research continues to develop, what we already know about heading and its effects on the brain suggests that there is measurable memory impairment lasting 24-48 hours following a series of headers and that brain-related proteins can be detected in blood samples for a short time after heading.

Celtic Way:

"Brain scan changes have also been reported in footballers that may be linked to heading. Therefore, the goal is to reduce any potential cumulative effect of heading by reducing the overall exposure to heading in training."

Expanding on the medical rationale behind the SFA's stance, Los Angeles-based specialist Dr Rajpal Brar reckons the governing body has taken a giant step in amplifying the debate over the link between dementia and the long-term effects of heading.

Dr Brar, a sports scientist and physical therapy, fitness and movement coach, told The Celtic Way: "I had heard about this initiative for a while. Basically, the reason they are doing it is that players have been suffering concussions - or mild traumatic brain injury, as it is known.

"If you take a big hit you have a concussion but the research is now showing that even little impacts over time - what they call the 'sub-threshold' which is below a concussion - can lead to cumulative wear and tear on the brain.

"Football is trying to limit that by banning heading 24 hours before and after a game and limiting doing heading exercises in training during the week. The 24-hour pre- and post-period are to give a little more margin because obviously during a game you are going to have to head the ball and oftentimes at high speed.

"Medical science is trying to limit the cumulative blow on the brain during training. It makes sense when you think about it: the head is not something that you are meant to bang against something.

"Of course, you want players to play and do their best and win their headers but you are also talking about medium and long-term Alzheimer's. The SFA has come up with a decent starting point and having the conversations in the first place is great.

"This is a good launching point - you have to start somewhere and you can make adjustments as you go along and see what works and what doesn't work. If you never lay down a rule in the first place then how can you expect change? I think the SFA should be applauded for giving Scottish football a good base starting point."

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While almost two-thirds of the players' union respondents were in favour of restrictions, former Celtic captain Peter Grant has outlined potential practicality concerns when it comes to how a football club structures its week in relation to games.

He believes some clubs will opt to simply double up on heading or set-piece sessions on days outwith the 24-hour game windows rather than cut down altogether.

"Looking at this from a purely footballing perspective, heading a ball is such a vital part of the game," Grant said. "The ball is also slightly different now than it was many years ago.

"And I know the way players and managers work. If you tell them players are not to head the ball 24 hours before a game then managers will [get them to] do it twice as much 48 hours before a match.

"Trust me, managers will get their players to double up on heading in training sessions if they try to impose a 24-hour heading ban rule across Scotland. How do you enforce it? How do you police every Scottish football club to make sure they're not heading it 24 hours before or after a match?

"Some players will want to cram it all in on the days that they are permitted to head it. Players I've worked with simply wouldn't put up with not heading it in training. Things are regimented - defenders want to head the ball to practise the art of defending and strikers want to do it to practise scoring goals.

"They'll want to practice to get better. How can coaches turn round and tell the players 'no, you can't do that'. Then, in a match, how can you be critical of a player who doesn't head the ball away because they're not practising it?"

Fellow ex-Celt and 32-times capped Scotland international Steven Pressley has similar practical concerns.

The former Falkirk and Coventry City manager said: "Nobody seems to be focusing on the individual aspect of it all. Many players - including myself - had careers built on their aerial strength and prowess.

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"Heading a ball is an extremely important part of football. Is what we're doing now denying players the opportunity to properly improve that to have a successful football career? Without heading a ball you'd have futsal.

"I speak as a player who worked on my heading constantly and did a lot of heading the ball throughout my playing career. There is an element of risk - but there is risk in all forms of contact sports. 

"The enjoyment of winning an aerial duel was a huge part of my game. I am not saying that we should expose players to endless heading drills but the balance is being tilted by banning it this much."

While it is true the medical science is not definitive on the subject - and he does not envision a day when heading a ball is totally outlawed - Dr Brar believes that education for everyone involved in football is the only true way forward.

He insists that a change of attitude within the football community is needed, with safety and prolonging lives at the epicentre.

"Is it definitive? Nothing really is," Dr Brar added. "But there is a lot of strong science pointing towards it.

"I understand the arguments put forward by footballers and coaches - and I don't think a reasonable road is to ban heading altogether. Potentially, I think we just have to adjust our thinking and mindset according to science.

"The core element in all of this is health and safety we are trying to protect lives. You have to be able to find a fine balance between the two.

"Heading a ball is too important in football. It is integral to the game. I don't envisage a day when heading a ball will be banned from the sport completely. What the SFA and medical science are striving for is to see how much is OK in terms of heading a ball and how to spread it out properly.

"Medical science is all about education and changing the long-standing mentality. There has to be a balance, though, as you can't take heading out of football."

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