Earlier this month we wrote a blog on how high schools in Wisconsin have successfully reduced concussions in youth football by limiting full contact in practice, and it appears another major sport is following a similar path. The United States Soccer Federation unveiled a series of new safety measures aimed at reducing the number of concussions in the sport, and the biggest amendment may drastically change how young kids play the sport.
Under the new guidelines, players under the age of 11 will not be allowed to strike the ball with their head – known as a header – during a game. Additionally, the guidelines limit headers in practice for children between the ages of 11 and 13, and it allows players with a potential head wound to be temporarily subbed out, as the top levels of U.S. soccer do not allow players to come back onto the field once they’ve been subbed out. The rule changes were made in response to a class action lawsuit over concussions in the sport, which will now be dropped as part of a mutual agreement.
The regulations will become mandatory for all U.S. Soccer youth national teams and academies, but they won’t be forced on other soccer associations or development programs that aren’t a subsidiary of U.S. Soccer. Instead, U.S. Soccer hopes other organizations will use the guidelines as “recommended changes.”
George Chiampas, U.S. Soccer’s chief medical officer, said he hopes the changes lead to a reduction in youth concussions.
“What we’re establishing is creating parameters and guidelines with regards to the amount of exposure [to potential head injuries.]” said Chiampas.
Targeting the Real Issue?
Although the measures will almost assuredly reduce the number of concussions suffered by youth soccer players, are headers really the main source of head injuries? One study suggests otherwise.
According to a study published in JAMA Pediatrics, only 4.7 percent of boys’ concussions and 8.2 percent of girls’ concussions occurred because they contacted the soccer ball with their head. The report found that heading the ball wasn’t the problem, but jumping towards the ball may be the issue. 30.6 percent of boys’ concussions and 25.3 percent of girls’ concussions occurred during other acts of the header, including banging heads with another player or from falling and striking their head on the turf. Other aspects of the game that led to a large portion of concussions including “defending,” “general playing” and “goalkeeping” suggest that protective headgear, not eliminating headers, may do more to protect players.
In addition to eliminating and reducing headers at the youth level, U.S. Soccer also proposed a more uniform concussion protocol system, including more training for players, parents, coaches and officials on how to spot a concussion.
More specifics about the new regulations will be released within the next 30 days, including a timetable for implementing all proposed changes.
