It is Europe’s most productive academy, nurturing and developing more players in the continent’s top five leagues than any other club. When it comes to transforming children into great footballers, Ajax are without peer. So, when people express concerns that banning heading for children will leave them ill-prepared for the rigours of the professional game, Ajax offer the perfect counter-point. Having looked at the research which linked heading the ball to dementia in old age, Ajax decided to alter their methods so now players are not allowed to regularly head a full-size ball until they are on the verge of the first team. The youngest players on Ajax books (8-12) barely spend any time learning how to head the ball and when they do, it is with a small foam version rather than a leather or a plastic one. The focus instead is on technique, fitness and game awareness, with the ball rarely going above waist height. After five years of tears and toil, football’s dementia battle is only just getting started Even between the ages of 13 and 16, there is little heading practice in training and on the few occasions it is part of the sessions, coaches merely gently throw balls in the air with the focus on technique, getting the ball to go in the direction you want it to safely, rather than generating power or distance. It is only when players move into their development squad at the age of 17 that heading becomes a major part of their training programme, the club confident that players can still hone and master their heading technique in their late teens.

Dr. A takes at look at some free agency winners and losers after an incredibly busy weekend of movement in the NBA. (Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports)

The Green Bay Packers have succeeded this season by protecting leads, taking care of the football and controlling the clock. Green Bay committed four turnovers and squandered a two-touchdown halftime advantage in a 34-31 overtime loss to the Indianapolis Colts. The defeat caused the Packers (7-3) to fall behind New Orleans (8-2) in the race for the NFC’s best record.

The Cowboys returned from their bye on Sunday and turned in the kind of performance that many have been looking for since the start of the season. Ezekiel Elliott ran for more than 100 yards, Andy Dalton threw three touchdowns, and the defense came up with a pair of key takeaways that helped set the [more]

Here are a few notes on the Knicks after Day 3 of free agency.

Mercedes has managed to cure the one weakness its long-wheelbase Formula 1 car concept has had in terms of difficulty with corner rotation, says Lewis Hamilton.

Saying Providence College coach Ed Cooley is pumped for the season would be an understatement. “I am so excited about this year, I’m jumping out of my seat right now,” Cooley said on his weekly radio show in advance of Wednesday’s season opener at home against Fairfield. The Friars are coming off a 19-12 season, which they ended on a six-game winning streak.

The Minnesota Vikings stumbled through the first half, an uneven and undisciplined performance that was a little unlucky, too. As well as they played against the Dallas Cowboys after that, those early mistakes made their margin for error too small to overcome. With their 31-28 defeat, the Vikings (4-6) squandered a prime opportunity to pull within one game of the final wild-card spot in the NFC.

The Proteas will not take a knee during the forthcoming series against England.