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An agreement announced Monday, November 9, 2015 following an August 2014 lawsuit filed against U.S. Soccer, U.S. Youth Soccer, the American Youth Soccer Organization, U.S. Club Soccer and the California Youth Soccer Association includes reforms to improve concussion awareness for everyone including coaches, referees, parents and players in youth soccer, along with some uniform concussion management and return-to-play protocols, according to CNN. These protocols include the provision for not having a player with a suspected concussion being counted against a team’s substitution total.

Although a comprehensive campaign will be unveiled in the next few months, according to the U.S. Soccer Organization, the governing body of soccer in the U.S., it announced there should be no heading for players up to age 10 and only limited to practice time for 11 to 13 year-olds. This directive is now in effect for participants in U.S. Soccer’s Youth National Teams and its Development Academy.

Soccer has become a household word in many families and is one of the most popular team sports in the world. According to U.S. Soccer.org, the two national youth organizations have registered 3.2 million participants younger than 19 years of age. More than 700,000 girls and boys played soccer in U.S. high schools, making soccer among the top sports for increased participation.

Many recognize that participating in soccer can provide young people with aerobic exercise while developing balance, coordination, and agility, but soccer players, and their families, must be aware of the risks of head injuries.

The American Academy of Pediatrics reports that soccer has a higher injury rate than many other contact/collision sports which include field hockey, rugby, and basketball. These injuries affect approximately 80 percent of participants younger than 24, and about 44 percent of participants younger than 15. The contact injuries usually occur when a player is tackling the ball, being tackled, or heading the ball because one or more defenders are impeding the play.

CNN reported on November 10, 2015 that two different sports medicine studies found that soccer ranks number two, following football, with the highest rates of concussions when it comes to sports. For every 10 thousand “athlete exposures” (a student participating in a game or practice), a study calculated 4.5 concussions for girls and 2.8 for boys. The rate is significant even though half that of football. Although it has been thought that “heading” the ball was the main reason for concussions, the studies found that not to be the case. Other types of physical contact such as accidental head butts are the main reason.

What is a concussion?

The National Athletic Trainers’ Association defines a concussion as a “trauma-induced alteration in mental status that may or may not involve loss of consciousness,” and results from “the rapid acceleration or deceleration of the brain within the skull. The force behind the brain’s change in velocity is often from direct contact to the head, but can also come from indirect forces like whiplash, as could result from a car accident or being blindsided by a hit on a soccer field.”

How can soccer injuries be prevented?

StopSportsInjuries.org recommends the following:

• Have a pre-season physical examination and follow your doctor's recommendations.
• Use well-fitting cleats and shin guards — there is some evidence that molded and multi-studded cleats are safer than screw-in cleats.
• Be aware of poor field conditions that can increase injury rates.
• Use properly sized synthetic balls — leather balls that can become waterlogged and heavy are more dangerous, especially when heading.
• Watch out for mobile goals that can fall on players and request fixed goals whenever possible.
• Hydrate adequately — waiting until you are thirsty is often too late to hydrate properly.
• Pay attention to environmental recommendations, especially in relation to excessively hot and humid weather, to help avoid heat illness.
• Maintain proper fitness — injury rates are higher in athletes who have not adequately prepared physically.
• After a period of inactivity, progress gradually back to full-contact soccer through activities such as aerobic conditioning, strength training, and agility training.
• Avoid overuse injuries — more is not always better! Many sports medicine specialists believe that it is beneficial to take at least one season off each year. Try to avoid the pressure that is now exerted on many young athletes to over-train. Listen to your body and decrease training time and intensity if pain or discomfort develops. This will reduce the risk of injury and help avoid "burn-out."
• Speak with a sports medicine professional or athletic trainer if you have any concerns about injuries or soccer injury prevention strategies.

“Participating in team sports is a fun endeavor for youth, but participating should not result in long-term head injuries. If you or a loved one has suffered a youth sports injury, contact the team at Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. to determine your rights. There are no costs or attorney fees until you win,” said Fort Myers Brain Injury Attorney, Randall Spivey.

Fort Myers Brain Injury Attorney, Randall L. Spivey is a Board Certified Trial Attorney – the highest recognition for competence bestowed by the Florida Bar and a distinction earned by just one (1%) percent of Florida attorneys.  He has handled over 2,000 personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida.  For a free and confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights, contact the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., in Lee County at 239.337.7483 or toll free at 1.888.477.4839,or by email to Randall@SpiveyLaw.com.  Visit SpiveyLaw.com for more information.  You can contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.in Charlotte County at 941.764.7748 and in Collier County 239.793.7748.