Soccer heading rules for kids in the US

Heading rules for kids: diagram

What the referee looks for

• Was the header deliberate? A ball that hits a child on the head by accident is not an offence.
• The age group of the game, not the height or skill of the player.
• The spot. The indirect free kick is taken where the header happened.
• Near the goal: U.S. Soccer moves a kick from inside the goal area to the goal area line; US Youth Soccer moves a kick from inside the penalty area to outside it.
• Any sign of a head injury. The player comes off to be checked, and a substitute may come on.

Rule: U.S. Soccer and US Youth Soccer rules. Read it in the Laws of the Game (The IFAB).

Common mix-ups

• “Heading is banned until high school.”

  No. The limit is age 10 and under. US Youth Soccer allows heading in games from age 11.

• “It is a US law.”

  It is a rule of soccer organizations, not a law of the country. U.S. Soccer introduced it with its concussion initiative, and US Youth Soccer has its own written rule.

• “An accidental header is a foul.”

  The rule is about deliberate headers. Play goes on after an accident, unless the referee stops to check the player.

• “My 10-year-old plays U12, so heading is fine.”

  US Youth Soccer’s rule goes by the player’s age: a player aged 10 or younger does not head the ball. Ask your league how it handles players who play up.

In 7v7, 9v9, 11v11 and futsal

These are the Laws of the Game and typical US youth standards. Your league may differ, so check its rules. Sources: IFAB Laws of the Game (current edition), U.S. Soccer small-sided standards, US Youth Soccer playing rules (December 2025) and the FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025-26. Checked on November 10, 2026.

Questions about heading rules for kids

• At what age can kids head the ball in soccer?

  In US youth soccer, from age 11 in games. Players aged 10 and under do not head the ball at all. Players aged 11 and 12 have limits in practice.

• What happens if a 9-year-old heads the ball in a game?

  If it was deliberate, the referee stops play and the other team gets an indirect free kick from that spot. No card is shown.

• Why is heading limited for kids?

  U.S. Soccer introduced the limits as part of its concussion initiative, on the advice of its medical committee.

• How can young players control a high ball without heading?

  With the chest, the thigh or the foot, or by letting it bounce. Our lessons teach looking early and choosing a first touch into space.

Lessons that go with this rule

• Look, Then Turn or Return (7v7 lesson)Look for pressure before receiving. Turn into room or give the ball back.
• Receive: Turn or Connect (9v9 lesson)Check the space before receiving; a turn and a return solve different pressure.
• Watch What Happens After the Shot (7v7 lesson)A wide midfielder reads a loose rebound or a goalkeeper’s controlled ball before deciding whether to approach or recover.

Keep reading

• Soccer age groupsU6 to U19 and which game each one plays
• 7v7 soccer formationsThe shapes for U9 and U10 teams
• Soccer ball size by ageSize 3, 4 or 5 for each age group
• Futsal rules that are different from soccerFIFA Futsal Laws of the Game, with a diagram
• Offside in soccer, explained for kidsLaw 11, with a diagram
• All soccer rules for kids16 rules explained for kids, each with a diagram: offside, handball, throw-ins and more
• Soccer terms for kids: an A-Z glossary92 soccer words in plain English, from advantage to yellow card, 18 with a diagram