Following insight, observation and feedback it was felt that the decision to restart the game with a free-kick on the penalty mark to the opposition where a player had deliberately headed the ball within their own penalty area was not in line with the ethos and aims of the trial.

Furthermore, there was a number of reported incidents where young players were lining up on the goal-line to face a shot from the penalty mark which was often drilled with speed and power towards the players – thus prompting safety concerns from players, parents, coaches etc and in essence defeating the whole purpose of the trial.

With this in mind, for the start of the 2023/24 season in games where the clubs and competition are taking part of the official FA trial, if a player deliberately heads the ball in their own penalty area then the referee will stop the game. The referee will then restart with an in-direct free-kick to the opposition from the side-line of the penalty area nearest to where the offence took place. Please see attached to give visual guidance.