US Soccer 'bans headers' for young players in attempt to reduce concussions

The American governing body of football has banned players under the age of 10 from heading the ball, as part of measures aimed to reduce the number of concussions in youngsters playing the sport.

US Soccer says the ruling, made following 15 months of legal wrangling, will limit players aged 11-13 to heading a ball only during matches and is a result of a class action lawsuit that will now be dismissed.

The United States Soccer Federation and the other youth member defendants, with input from counsel for the plaintiffs, have developed a sweeping youth soccer initiative designed to.

(a) improve concussion awareness and education among youth coaches, referees, parents and players;

(b) implement more uniform concussion management and return-to-play protocols for youth players suspected of having suffered a concussion;

(c) modify the substitution rules to insure such rules do not serve as an impediment to the evaluation of players who may have suffered a concussion during games;

and (d) eliminate heading for children 10 and under and limit heading in practice for children between the ages of 11 and 13.

– US SOCCER STATEMENT

The group of parents who brought the class-action lawsuit to bear weren't seeking financial damages, but changes to the sport's rules, from limits on headers for children to altering Fifa's substitution procedures - points very similar to US Soccer's decision.

Research from JAMA Pediatrics shows that it's not always the act of putting forehead to ball that causes the injury, but from clashing heads or from hitting the ground after a head shot or clearance.

The data suggests that heading is the "soccer specific" activity that causes the most concussions.

The news was met mostly with approval from within the sport in the US, including ex-international and Major League Soccer player Taylor Twellman - whose career was cut short after suffering several concussions;

Taylor Twellman

@TaylorTwellman

Can't tell you how emotional I am that progress is being made and I can't wait to see it come to fruition.#CARE https://t.co/0KZpniLPjI

23:53 - 9 Nov 2015

It's not immediately clear how the new rules will be enforced across what is one of the most rapidly growing sports in North America or if it will have a detrimental effect on player development.

But - as many older players who have suffered through post-concussive syndrome symptoms will attest - any protocol aimed at reducing potential brain trauma in children has to be greeted with welcome by those in the sport.