Protective Headgear

Protective Headgear in Soccer

***REMEMBER: THIS INFORMATION IS NOT INTENDED TO SWAY SOCCER PLAYERS TO WEAR HEADGEAR OR NOT, IT IS PURELY EDUCATIONAL!! THE USE OF PROTECTIVE HEADGEAR IS COMPLETELY VOLUNTARY.

Recently, the issue of protective headgear for soccer players has become more popular. No major governing body of soccer (ie. FIFA, USSF) mandates the use of this headgear, but voluntary use has been approved.

There is conflicting evidence regarding the effectiveness of protective headgear in soccer. While some researchers claim that it can help reduce the risk of concussions and the 'sting' of the ball, other researchers believe this cannot be proven scientifically due to insufficint biomechanical data. Conditions replicating linear heading of a soccer ball have been attempted in various studies, but rotational forces that are common in soccer may be too difficult to replicate.

-Bruce, S, Cantu R, Ferrara M, Guskiewicz K, Kelly J, McCrea M, McLeod T, Putukian M. National athletic trainers' association position statement: management of sport-related concussion. J Athl Train. 2004;39:280-297.

PROS of protective headgear:

-Headgear can be used to reduce the 'sting' of impacts from the soccer ball

-Manufacturer's claim their headgear reduces the probability of a concussion by 50%

-Often, it is recommended to provide futher protection to those soccer players who have a history of concussions

CONS of protective headgear:

-Might cause athletes to play more aggressively due to a false sense of security therefore causing more head and cervical injuries in the sport (the superman effect)

-The headgear is not intended to be used in return more quickly from a previous concussion

-Concussions can still occur in soccer while wearing protective headgear
-Scientific research has not yet proven the effectiveness of protective headgear.

There are 3 types of headgear that meet the standards (F2439-06) set by the American Society for Testing and Materials:
DjOrthopedics 'Hat Trick' http://www.djortho.com/
Full90 Sports 'Premiere A' http://www.full90.com/
ForceField Protective Headband http://www.forcefieldheadbands.com/

Information for Parents & 2009 REAP Project

Parents of adolescent soccer players that have suffered a concussion play a huge role in the recovery of their child. Parents should be educated on when to recognize a concussion (see signs and symptoms on earlier post) and the proper steps to take to ensure correct care and treatment of the concussion.

1. Seek medical attention right away. A health care professional will be able to decide how serious the concussion is and when it is safe for your teen to return to sports. Some qualified professionals include an MD, DO, NP, PA, and ATC.

2. Keep your teen out of play. Concussions take time to heal. Do not let your teen return to play until a health care professional says it's OK. Athletes who return to play too soon-while the brain is still healing-risk a greater chance of having a second concussion or second impact syndrome.

3. Tell all of your teen's coaches about any recent concussion. Coaches should know if your teen has had a recent concussion in ANY sport. Knowing about the concussion will allow the coach to keep your teen from activities that could result in another concussion.

4. Everyday activities may need to be limited. Physical and Cognitive brain rest are needed for complete recovery. School is where cognitive demands are the highest. Your child may need to stay at home for a few days.

To maximize your child's recovery from concussion, activity needs to be reduced and they needs lots of rest. Insist that your child rest, especially for the first few days after the concussion and throughout the 3 week recovery period (this can be longer!). Do not let your child convince you that he/she will rest "later". Rest must happen immediately! The school that your child attends should help your child reduce cognitive load, either by excusing them from school or reducing the classwork in school. At home, it is your job to help reduce sensory load- i.e. it is advised that teens avoid loud group functions, limit video games, television, and text messaging. Because a concussion will almost universally slow reaction time, driving should be limited/restricted pending medial clearance. Plenty of sleep and quiet, restful activities post-concussion will help maximize recovery.

This information comes from the 2009 REAP project. The REAP project is being adopted by many Colorado school districts. It focuses on a community-based approach to concussion management for high school students, here is the information:


http://cokidswithbraininjury.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/REAP-Project-Manual-Final.pdf

What is a Concussion?

A concussion is defined by the National Athletic Trainer's Association as:

An acceleration-deceleration mechanism in which a blow to the head or the head striking an object results in one or more of the following conditions:

-Headache

-Trouble Sleeping

-Nausea

-Drowsiness

-Vomiting

-Fatigue

-Dizziness

-Blurred Vision

-Balance Problems

-Memory Loss

-Feeling 'Slowed Down'

-Difficulty Concentrating

-Sensitivity to light and noise

-Combative

-Bruce S, Cantu R, Ferrara M, Guskiewicz K, Kelly J, McCrea M, McLeod T, Putukian M. National athletic trainers' association statement: management of sport-related concussion. J Athl Train. 2004;39:280-297.

Concussion data was collected from 180 colleges and high schools throughout the United States in a 2007 study. For the 4,431 injuries reported from 9 sports during one school year, about 9% of these were concussions. Soccer was considered a 'partial-contact' sport by these researchers. In the data collected from soccer players, females had a high rate of concussions than males. In this population of females, concussions amounted for a large number of the total sum of injuries. Among both sexes, about 64% of the concussions suffered were from heading a soccer ball. Contact with another soccer athlete was a more widespread mechanism of injury in male soccer players while contact with the playing surface and forces from the actual ball were more common mechanisms in girls. It was also found that concussions accounted for about 21% of injuries to goalkeepers.

-Collins C, Comstock D, Dick R, Fields S, Gessel L. Concussions among united states high school and collegiate athletes. J Athl Train. 2007;42:495-503.

A Few Fun Facts About Concussions

This blog is for soccer players, soccer parents and coaches at all levels. I will post as much information as I can regarding the dangers of concussions in soccer as well as information about protective headgear.


In the United States, there are roughly 300,000 sports-related concussions per year.

Many coaching books do not address heading until the age of 12, with many physicians recommending waiting until the age of 14.
-Covassin T, Elbin R, Stearne D. Concussion history and postconcussion neurocognitive performance and symptoms in collegiate athletes. J Athl Train. 2008;43:119-124.

 In high school sports, football has the highest concussion rate followed by Girls Soccer then Boys Soccer.

-Collins C, Comstock D, Dick R, Fields S, Gessel L. Concussions among united states high school and collegiate athletes. J Athl Train. 2007;42:495-503.


It is estimated that in a career of 300 games, a soccer player will sustain around 2,000 blows to the head from heading a soccer ball.
In the United States alone, there are about seven million high school athletes and roughly 385,000 college athletes.

-Broglio M, Broglio S, Ju T, Sell T. The efficacy of soccer headgear. J Athl Train. 2003;38:220-224.

Information coming soon!!