Quantification of heading in adult football: a systematic review and evidence synthesis

This study aims to evaluate the quantification of heading in adult football (soccer) across practice, game and laboratory settings. Additionally, it examines how variables such as technical categorisation, ball properties, gender, position, level and type of play influence acceleration, force, nature and frequency of heading.

A systematic review was conducted in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses-Protocols guidelines and registered with PROSPERO (CRD42021249268).

MEDLINE, ScienceDirect, SPORTDiscus, CINAHL, Web of Science, Scopus and ProQuest.

Studies published in English between 2000 and 2024 that quantified subjective and/or objective measures of acceleration, force, nature and frequency of heading in football were included.

Thirty-two articles met the eligibility criteria. Measurements of acceleration, force, nature and frequency were measured in practice and game situations; however, no study reported all measures synchronously from both practice and games in the same investigation. Differences in acceleration (linear/rotational), force, nature and frequency when heading were observed and influenced by gender, playing position, type of header, approach, preceding events, ball properties and neck strength. Acceleration and force were the highest from goal kicks, and a larger frequency of headers was exhibited in training than games. The nature of headers was difficult to report due to inconsistencies in the terms used across the literature to define the type of header or event preceding the header.

Our findings inform the standardisation and accuracy of quantifying heading in football. Future research should focus on quantifying heading in uncontrolled scenarios using valid and reliable technology and verify ball-to-head impacts through video analytics to determine any relevant clinical thresholds for heading.