Women's Football Hub

Editor Carolyn Kent – Women’s Football Hub

Introduction

In this episode of the Women’s Football Hub podcast, we welcomed Dr Kerry Peek, an esteemed FIFA medical researcher and associate professor at the University of Sydney. With an extensive background in sports medicine, Dr Peek’s research focuses on brain health in football, particularly the effects of heading. Our conversation delved into her journey into concussion research, the risks associated with heading, and what players and coaches need to know to mitigate these risks.

From Physiotherapy to FIFA: Dr Peek’s Journey

Dr Peek’s career began as a physiotherapist in the UK before transitioning into research upon moving to Australia. Her interest in heading and brain health was sparked when she observed her young son heading a football. This curiosity led her to explore the existing literature, revealing significant gaps in research, and ultimately motivated her to focus on heading in football as her primary research area.

What Does the Research Say About Heading?

Dr Peek and her team have conducted extensive studies on heading frequency, technique, and injury risks in both men’s and women’s football. Key findings include:

✅ Differences in Heading Exposure: While young girls tend to head the ball less frequently than boys, by ages 14-15, the rates become comparable.

✅ Men vs. Women: Data from the men’s and women’s World Cups show nearly identical heading rates, though there are key biomechanical differences.

✅ Timing & Technique Matter: Players who close their eyes too early before impact are at greater risk of injury, as they lose spatial awareness in aerial duels.

Are Some Players More at Risk?

Certain groups are at a higher risk of heading-related injuries:

• Inexperienced players who have not been taught proper heading technique.
• Women and girls, who are more likely to be injured by the ball itself than men.
• Players in aerial duels, where collisions with other players pose a significant concussion risk.

Dr Peek emphasises that heading rarely causes concussions outright—rather, it’s the player-to-player collisions during aerial contests that are the real concern. Understanding and improving technique could significantly reduce injury risk.

Making Heading Safer: What Coaches & Players Can Do

One of the biggest challenges in addressing heading safety is educating coaches and players. Dr Peek highlights the need for structured coaching frameworks and offers the following practical advice:

• ⚽ Teach heading technique early, using age-appropriate training.
• 🏋️‍♀️ Develop neck strength, which can help reduce impact forces.
• 👀 Train ball tracking skills to improve reaction time and positioning.
• 🎯 Start with light balls before progressing to regulation footballs.
• 🚫 Don’t force heading—if a player isn’t comfortable, they shouldn’t be expected to do it.

Concussion Management: A Must-Know for Coaches & Medics

For those working with footballers, Dr Peek stresses the importance of being cautious with head injuries:

• ❌ If in doubt, sit them out – players should never continue if there’s a chance they’ve sustained a concussion.
• 🏥 Seek expert guidance – new graduates and coaches should educate themselves on concussion protocols.
• 🔍 Look for behavioural patterns – understanding how injuries occur can help prevent them in the future.

What’s Next in Concussion Research?

As FIFA continues to invest in brain health research, several initiatives are underway: 📊 A global heading research database to consolidate all published studies. 📝 A standardised heading definition to improve research consistency. 🧠 A new concussion assessment tool tailored for football.

Dr Peek encourages researchers worldwide to collaborate in filling the knowledge gaps and improving player safety.

Final Thoughts

Concussion and heading in football are complex issues, but with the right approach to training and education, risks can be minimized. Dr Peek’s work is at the forefront of making football safer for everyone, and her insights are invaluable to players, coaches, and medical professionals alike.

📢 Join the Conversation: What are your thoughts on heading in football? Should more be done to protect players? Let us know in the comments!

🎧 Listen to the full episode now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favourite platform.

---

This blog post was created with assistance from OpenAI’s ChatGPT (OpenAI, 2025).