How Ajax Amsterdam academy Prevents Dementia

DBasia.news – The Ajax Amsterdam football club academy has a special way to prevent dementia in players under their auspices. The academy uses foam balls for heading practices.

Dementia is a disease that results in a decrease in memory and thinking. The most common types of dementia are Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia. Dementia is different from senile that occurs in the elderly.

Apparently, the disease afflicts footballers. World Cup winner, Nobby Stiles, died from dementia. Former Manchester United legend Sir Bobby Charlton has it too.

Reportedly, footballers can develop dementia as they head the ball too often. Several former players have also started calling for minimizing headers.

Now, Ajax has confirmed that academy players from the ages of eight to 12 will not undergo normal ball header training. The players will use foam balls in training.

PSV will also use a lighter ball during the header. Meanwhile, Feyenoord also headed for the same decision.

“We continue to monitor what is best. The most responsible is in training with young players,” explained Feyenoord.

“Incidentally, at the youngest age there is little or no training in the head. It’s more about fun, technique and insight into the game.”

Former footballer, Gary Lineker also spoke out. He considered, header training when he was young was not important.

“Being a former footballer and an aging footballer is something that worries me. It’s terrible to see so many players affected,” Gary Lineker told Gazetta dello Sport.

“The percentage rate is significantly more than the average population. So it’s hard to conclude that heading the ball at an early age repeatedly over a long period of time can lead to dementia.”

“Chris Sutton’s campaign to stop heading the ball too much in training makes a lot of sense.”

“You don’t have to actually head the ball in practice. You can head or not. I think that will make a big difference,” said Lineker.

According to research by The University of Glasgow in 2019, football players are three times more likely to develop dementia than other people.