- Joined
- Dec 25, 2011
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Heading itself isn't really that big of a problem for concussions. Not sure about repetitive heading and what that effect is. But just for straight getting a concussion, almost all I've ever seen comes from head to head contact, head to ground contact, or getting struck by the ball in the head.
In the past 15 or so years of coaching and reffing soccer, I think I've seen 1 girl (probably U13??) have a problem after heading the ball. Long punt she headed and kind of held her head after. Don't know if she ended up having a concussion or not but I stopped the game and had her go off, she didn't come back into the game.
Agreed, a header done the right way should not hurt anyone. The issue, especially in Rec, is if a coach know how to train kids the right way. Many do not and freak out (and parents more so) the first time training for headers as soon as the inevitable bloody nose happens because a 9U wasn't paying attention.
I've had roughly 5 concussions from paying soccer that I can count (4 from playing keeper) and only 1 was from direct ball to head contact. Was playing Keeper (of course) in an indoor soccer match and had a 1 v1 against me. I was in a good position to block and head shots; but, I forgot that we were using a hockey court. The shot missed me to the right, rebounded off the hockey board just a few feet behind me and the rebound got me square in the temple. Haven't played keeper since (wife's orders).