Why Risk It?

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Heading the ball is a key move in soccer which lets players hit the ball from a much

higher point than if they were kicking it. It can be used to nudge the ball into a goal, or to receive

a punt from the other teams goalkeeper. Although it can be helpful in professional soccer, for

young children it is often very dangerous. Young athletes just dont have the coordination to

head the ball without a big chance of hurting themselves. Kids shouldnt be allowed to head the

ball in soccer.

Not only can heading the ball cause concussions or headaches, but it can also bruise or

cut a person. In this study, the most common cause of concussions was when one player's

head hit the head of another player. None of the concussions were caused by proper heading of

the ball.

Compared to other contact sports, head injuries are common in soccer. Concussions

make up 2-3% of all injuries in soccer. This is the same rate as for American football. Dr. Jill

Brooks found that more than one quarter of high school players had experienced one or more

concussions before coming to high school. Dr. Ruben Echemendia said in his study of college
athletes that over 40 percent of the soccer players had at least one concussion before attending

college. Only 30 percent of the incoming football players in the same study reported having had

a concussion.

Concussions are more dangerous than just the immediate effects. If someone gets a

second concussion before the brain recovers from the first one, they can experience a

life-threatening swelling of the brain, no matter how minor the first or second hit to the head

appeared to be, says Dr. James Kelly. This can cause major long-lasting brain damage and

disability or even death.

Although kids may want to head the ball, thats mostly just because they want to look

cool. But looking cool definitely isnt the main focus of youth soccer. Youth soccer is about

teamwork and perseverance This isnt about if they want to, its about if they can. Yes, all sports

include some risk in them, but concussions are much more serious than twisting an ankle or

something. Kids should only be able to head the ball if they have been trained correctly and are

over 13. Its hard to teach children to head the ball properly, so by the time theyre teenagers,

they have the hand-eye coordination to learn how to head the ball safely. By then, they have the

coordination and skill to use this move in a safe and effective way.