A Wrexham-based company is leading the charge to reduce the impact of heading in youth football.

Net World Sports has launched a lightweight football to help reduce the long-term health risks associated with heading in grassroots sports.

Excessive heading of footballs during childhood has been linked to long-term health effects, including cognitive decline, memory impairment, attention deficits, and mental health challenges such as depression and anxiety.

To combat this issue, the FA announced in May the expansion of its IFAB trial to restrict deliberate heading in grassroots matches.

Heading is currently banned in grassroots and school matches for the U7 to U9 age groups, and the trial will expand to include all U11 age groups from the 2026/27 season.

However, the responsibility also lies with retailers to create safer products for the sport, and with coaches to teach and correct any unsafe heading techniques.

Prior to the FA’s expansion of the trial, Net World Sports launched a lightweight heading football suited to all pitch types to help reduce the impact of heading a ball.

The ball, developed alongside Aston Villa’s head of kit and equipment operations Paul Carter, is 40 per cent lighter and softer than a regular football and features a 3.5mm EVA foam inner layer to produce a lightweight and cushioned feel.

It also features a ‘Do not head excessively’ warning to reinforce the importance of minimising heading.

Dr Willie Stewart, professor of psychology and neuroscience at the University of Glasgow, praised the ball’s heading warning.

He said: "I think that it’s a good message to not head the ball excessively.

"It’s slightly ironic that it's on a heading practice ball but it’s a start and it would be nice to see it on other balls."

The ball is already being used by several professional clubs including Aston Villa, Leeds United, Aberdeen, and Stockport County.

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The head of commercial at Net World Sports said: "Our innovative FORZA Heading Football has been developed by our product team in response to demand from County FA, Premier League, and MLS clubs, to reduce the impact of heading a ball during training."

Neurology expert Karen Odell-Barber, CEO of Neurologics, has said that young children (under 12) are more at risk of the side effects of the long-term heading of footballs.

However, she also said caution is still needed from ages 13-16 as the risk isn’t completely eradicated with age.

She said: "Their developing brains are more susceptible to trauma due to less developed neck muscles, thinner skulls, and ongoing brain development (also known as pruning).

"The brain is still forming neural pathways during these years, and injuries at this stage can have more profound long-term effects."

She added: "The long-term effects of frequent heading in childhood can manifest in adulthood as cognitive decline, impaired memory, attention deficits, and potentially mental health issues such as depression or anxiety.

"In severe cases, there’s a risk of developing a degenerative brain disease associated with repetitive head trauma, leading to serious issues like aggression, confusion, or dementia."

Research also suggests that it could also increase the risk of early-onset dementia.

Ms Odell-Barber said: "Frequent head traumas, especially at a young age, could increase the risk of early-onset dementia.

"The repetitive head impacts can lead to the accumulation of certain proteins, which are associated with neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s."

Speaking about lighter balls Ms Odell-Barber said: "Using lighter balls could potentially reduce the risk as the force of impact would be lower."