Smarter Ball Design Could Protect Players From Brain Injury, Scientists Say

Could a Redesigned Football Reduce the Risk of Brain Damage?

Scientists are calling for a fundamental rethink in football design after groundbreaking new research revealed that heading a ball generates a pressure wave inside the brain with an energy transfer comparable to that recorded in certain military gunshot and blast scenarios.

The study, conducted by Loughborough University with backing from the Football Association, examined footballs spanning more than a century of the sport. Researchers used an advanced surrogate head model fitted with a specialist pressure sensor to measure impacts at real match speeds — and what they found was striking.

A Hidden Energy Wave No One Had Measured Before

For the first time, scientists identified a specific pressure wave that drives energy directly into the frontal region of the brain at the very start of a heading collision. This initial energy pulse — distinct from the visible impact and head recoil — had never been recorded in this context before.

Perhaps most alarmingly, the study found that the level of energy transferred varied enormously depending on the ball being used, with some footballs transferring up to 55 times more energy into the brain than others.

"From literature on repetitive low-level military blast studies, we're confident that the signals we're measuring are of a magnitude that would perhaps be concerning in some of those situations," said lead researcher Dr. Ieuan Phillips.

The research also confirmed that three key factors influence how much energy enters the brain during a header: the construction and design of the ball, the speed at which it is travelling, and whether the ball is wet or dry.

Older Leather Balls Are Not Solely to Blame

A common assumption has long been that the heavy leather footballs of previous eras were the primary culprit behind brain injuries in retired players. However, this study challenges that narrative head-on.

Professor Andy Harland, a sports technology expert at Loughborough University, noted that high-energy transfer was not exclusive to leather balls from the past.

"There are examples of balls that transfer high or low energy across all eras of play," he said. "Our evidence suggests that high energy pressure wave transfer was not limited to leather balls, so if this energy is associated with neurodegenerative disease, it is not a problem that has gone away with modern balls."

Football's Growing Brain Injury Crisis

This research emerges at a time when football is facing intensifying scrutiny over its handling of brain health and head injuries.

In January, a senior coroner ruled that repeatedly heading footballs was "likely" to have contributed to the brain disease that played a role in the death of former Leeds United and Manchester United defender Gordon McQueen. McQueen, who was diagnosed with vascular dementia and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) — a condition caused by repeated head impacts — passed away in 2023 at the age of 70.

Before him, former England striker Jeff Astle, who suffered years of neurological decline before his death, became the first footballer whose passing was formally linked to heading-related brain damage.

A landmark 2019 study known as the 'Field' study, jointly funded by the FA and the Professional Footballers' Association, found that professional footballers were 3.5 times more likely to develop neurodegenerative disorders compared to the general population.

What Changes Are Already Being Made?

In response to growing concerns, the FA has introduced a phased ban on heading in under-11s football and issued guidelines to clubs recommending limits on high-force headers during training — particularly from set-pieces such as free-kicks and corners.

Scotland has gone even further. The Scottish FA has banned heading the day before and after matches across the professional adult game.

FA Chief Medical Officer Charlotte Cowie welcomed the new findings, stating: "This new independent research provides us with innovative and previously undiscovered insight, and it is part of our ongoing commitment to gain a greater understanding of this highly complex area. The results have also been shared with FIFA and UEFA, and we continue to welcome a global approach to support further research in this important area."

A Reason for Optimism: The Ball Can Be Changed

Despite the sobering implications of the research, scientists are optimistic that the findings open a genuine path toward safer football.

"These findings provide opportunities to work towards ball designs and testing specifications that minimise energy transfer into the brain," said Dr. Phillips.

Because this newly identified pressure wave is a discrete, measurable event — separate from the broader mechanics of a header — it gives engineers a specific target to address when designing next-generation footballs.

"Most excitingly, it gives us the opportunity to make changes to the ball," Phillips added. "This energy transfer is over at the very beginning of the collision and represents a very discreet pulse of energy that passes into the brain."

While researchers acknowledge it may be many years before the full picture of heading-related brain damage is understood, this discovery provides a concrete and actionable starting point — one that could ultimately make the world's most popular sport significantly safer for the millions who play it.