Soccer helmets vs concussions

Just to stir it up a little, what is your opinion on the use of soccer helmets / padded headbands? Although they may not prevent a concussion, if they decrease the intensity of the blow, isn't it worth the $50?

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Note: I am not affiliated with anyone selling the headgear!

Heard a recent study on Concussions,
# 1 sport Football
# 2 was girls soccer
# 3 was boys soccer

If the head gear was mandatory, maybe the numbers would change, maybe like with football it gives you a false sense of security to play and hit harder?

I think that there is more to the concussion issue than heading the ball. It is really more related to hard contact in general - either with the ball (done incorrectly) and head to head or head to turf. Here is a link to the Rock Center story on the problem. http://rockcenter.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/05/09/11604307-concussion-crisis-growing-in-girls-soccer?lite

Headgear would not have help out our player this past weekend. She took a hard elbow to the face, then hit the ground with the back of her head. She suffered a concussion as a result. Headgear will only help out so much. I guess you could say that it is better than nothing.

04QSoccerMom wrote:Just to stir it up a little, what is your opinion on the use of soccer helmets / padded headbands? Although they may not prevent a concussion, if they decrease the intensity of the blow, isn't it worth the $50?

Not worth it in my opinion.

Studies are not conclusive that it is beneficial. Especially if kids feel "safe" they may be more willing to engage in dangerous plays.

Yes, there are many different causes of trauma ... heading the ball incorrectly is one, but also just contact with other players and the ground could obviously cause injury. Consecutive concussions can be very serious. I am just wondering if girls soccer is so dangerous, why don't we, as parents make a move to protect our kids?!

02Dad wrote:

04QSoccerMom wrote:Just to stir it up a little, what is your opinion on the use of soccer helmets / padded headbands? Although they may not prevent a concussion, if they decrease the intensity of the blow, isn't it worth the $50?

Not worth it in my opinion.

Studies are not conclusive that it is beneficial. Especially if kids feel "safe" they may be more willing to engage in dangerous plays.

That is my problem, there are also studies that say it is beneficial. Which studies should I believe?

Would it be "worth it" after the first concussion?

There are a few areas soccer safety can be improved with kids... I think young children should wear headgear when playing indoor and have seen several nasty wall collisions... I think goal posts should be padded like basketball goal posts.

But I agree overall that adding headgear in general makes for a false sense of protection and will likely increase reckless play.

We see this in US football where adding harder helmets dramatically increased the violence level of hits.

My DD collided head to head with another player and was not hurt but the other girl received a conclusion. She was out of school and soccer for a month so now my DD wears a full90 headgear. My DD plays all out every time so I can't say if it makes her more aggressive or not but it sure makes me feel better that I am trying to keep her safe

Criss70 wrote:Headgear would not have help out our player this past weekend. She took a hard elbow to the face, then hit the ground with the back of her head. She suffered a concussion as a result. Headgear will only help out so much. I guess you could say that it is better than nothing.

The full 90 had protection on the back of the head as well, just bought one yesterday. Rather be safe than sorry, had an incident this last weekend that could have resulted in a bad concussion, so now even DD agrees to wear which before was a battle.

Opposing player collided with DD as she was up in the air to head a ball causing her to loose balance falling on the back of her head in the Labor Day Tourney. Knew it was serious as she did not get up immediately. Thank God she is OK but will not return to the pitch without her headgear and mouth guard. If you have not done a baseline test for your child yet do it before your games Saturday. Hope the information below helps and links work from my copying and pasting.

This email is being sent to all 2000G and 2000B players in the North Texas Pool, and is from Coach Williamson.

There was a typo in the promotion code. Please use: USYSODP12. Thanks!

Boys and Girls concussion from head injuries is a common injury in soccer. It can happen:
• Head to Head
• Foot to Head
• Elbow to Head
• Head to Ground
In an effort to educate all players on this common injury we are requesting that all North Texas ODP players take the free baseline test provided by Axon Sports.

Please see the following documents:

Axon Sports Background Information
Axon Sports Baseline Testing Instructions
.
Please use the following link to Create your Axon Account


Please use the following link to take the take the Practice Baseline Test:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/concussion/DS00320

Looks like the links did not transfer. If you want the the links PM me.

Full 90 only claims to reduce impact forces. Think of the headgear as a car bumper; it doesn't eliminate accidents but it can reduce damage. My dd wears one after suffering a ground-caused concussion.

A foam soccer headgear is not the same as a hard-shell football helmet. Soccer players will not start spearing opponents because they put on a garland of foam.

I was very sceptical of the headgear until our daughter got hauled off during the Red Hot and Blue tourny by Ambulance. It's a feeling I do not wish on any parent. She was elbowed from behind during a heavy challenge and according to where my daughter says she got hit, the headgear does cover that vulnerable area. It is tough for her to wear when it's 105 degrees outside and we have to make an executive decision should she wear it or not. But the $40 we spent on it is well worth it. I accept the fact that we live in Texas, and the ground is as hard as my driveway and we just have to take cautionary messures to help my kid enjoy the sport and play it at a level she wants to play without having to hesitate.

I had two concussions when I was a kid. Was wearing a football helmet both times

DoubleDDRedux wrote:I had two concussions when I was a kid. Was wearing a football helmet both times

I guess that would explain it.

AbEnd wrote:Full 90 only claims to reduce impact forces. Think of the headgear as a car bumper; it doesn't eliminate accidents but it can reduce damage. My dd wears one after suffering a ground-caused concussion.

A foam soccer headgear is not the same as a hard-shell football helmet. Soccer players will not start spearing opponents because they put on a garland of foam.

I love the bumper analogy!

DoubleDDRedux wrote:I had two concussions when I was a kid. Was wearing a football helmet both times

As I have said multiple times, a soccer headguard does not claim to prevent concussions, only lessen the severity of impact.

I bet a lot of parents would feel different after you see your daughter with a concussion, and have to sit out for weeks. Even if it lessens the blow by 20%, isn't that worth the $50?

04QSoccerMom wrote:

DoubleDDRedux wrote:I had two concussions when I was a kid. Was wearing a football helmet both times

As I have said multiple times, a soccer headguard does not claim to prevent concussions, only lessen the severity of impact.

I bet a lot of parents would feel different after you see your daughter with a concussion, and have to sit out for weeks. Even if it lessens the blow by 20%, isn't that worth the $50?

Don't think I was arguing against you. Have you ever had a concussion?

Head gear might be useful and might not. I guess if a parent wants some inexpensive yet unproven insurance, it's not a bad idea.

The bigger issue is not players using their heads in soccer but the circumstances in which they head the ball. Why teach a player to sacrifice life and limb on a 50/50 ball at midfield? It accomplishes nothing but sending the ball in the other direction as - wait for it - another 50/50 ball. Let the fool on the other team head it so that your own team can control the opponent's lack thereof. Or defenders heading mile-high punts from the opposing keepers? I don't get it. The player is at risk, there is no control, and the ball is sent in the opposite direction with no intent to pass. We complain about kick-and-run soccer; what about head-and-hope?

Going in for a goal off a corner kick makes sense. So does a nice flick header as a fair backpass to the keeper or a redirect off a throw-in to a waiting forward. I would admit that there is risk to just about any play, but the above is nothing like a free-for-all for a ball coming in at an 80 degree angle from a punt or defensive clear into a pack of players.

I like the clapping and cheering when the booming punt is headed back 30 yards directly to no one. On the same lines as when you see your defender smashes it right to the opposing defender, but 40 yards away - but over your entire open mid field. Even in D1 I see/hear this all the time, makes no sense.

Blank77 wrote:I like the clapping and cheering when the booming punt is headed back 30 yards directly to no one. On the same lines as when you see your defender smashes it right to the opposing defender, but 40 yards away - but over your entire open mid field. Even in D1 I see/hear this all the time, makes no sense.

It's refreshing that other people see it this way, as well. We speak of development, but I'm routinely amazed at the senseless actions on the field that are never questioned:

Headers - Most of them!
Throwins - Thrown "down the line" far too often. There are some great throw-in strategies available, but few use them.
Goal kicks - Another 50/50 ball restart with no strategy whatsoever.
Punts by the keeper - Seldom is there intent. It's just where ever the ball lands, and they are nearly ALWAYS delivered too high and too steeply angled to be of use by the keeper's teammates.
Building walls - Especially further out than around 25-30 yards. Girls usually flinch or duck anyway, and often become more of a visual block for the keeper.
Sweepers - A useless "just in case" position for 95% of many games that relegates one of the 11 players to role of mostly watching the game and running backwards.

Xara wrote:

Blank77 wrote:I like the clapping and cheering when the booming punt is headed back 30 yards directly to no one. On the same lines as when you see your defender smashes it right to the opposing defender, but 40 yards away - but over your entire open mid field. Even in D1 I see/hear this all the time, makes no sense.

It's refreshing that other people see it this way, as well. We speak of development, but I'm routinely amazed at the senseless actions on the field that are never questioned:

Headers - Most of them!
Throwins - Thrown "down the line" far too often. There are some great throw-in strategies available, but few use them.
Goal kicks - Another 50/50 ball restart with no strategy whatsoever.
Punts by the keeper - Seldom is there intent. It's just where ever the ball lands, and they are nearly ALWAYS delivered too high and too steeply angled to be of use by the keeper's teammates.
Building walls - Especially further out than around 25-30 yards. Girls usually flinch or duck anyway, and often become more of a visual block for the keeper.
Sweepers - A useless "just in case" position for 95% of many games that relegates one of the 11 players to role of mostly watching the game and running backwards.

Eurosnob!

DoubleDDRedux wrote:

04QSoccerMom wrote:

DoubleDDRedux wrote:I had two concussions when I was a kid. Was wearing a football helmet both times

As I have said multiple times, a soccer headguard does not claim to prevent concussions, only lessen the severity of impact.

I bet a lot of parents would feel different after you see your daughter with a concussion, and have to sit out for weeks. Even if it lessens the blow by 20%, isn't that worth the $50?

Don't think I was arguing against you. Have you ever had a concussion?

Yes, I had a concussion when I was younger. If you weren't arguing against me, what was the point?