What are Canada Soccer's heading guidelines for U12?

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Accepted Answer

Canada Soccer's Heading Guidelines (updated May 2025, from its Sports Medicine Committee) say for U12-U13 (9v9):

Heading is a low priority in training.
Players can be introduced to the basic techniques of heading with limited repetition, using self-serves or short-distance serves, and always unopposed.
If available, coaches may choose lightweight balls. Balls used for heading training should be inflated to the lowest recommended regulation pressure or lower.
Do not focus on heading practice more than one session per week, and limit headers to five per player per session.
In games, coaches should keep encouraging a style of play that limits longer, higher passes and balls played in the air.

For U10-U11 (7v7), heading should not be introduced in training sessions.