Soccer Headgear: Does It Do Any Good?

NY Times ^ | November 27, 2004 | JERE LONGMAN

[neverdem]

Don Jedlovec
Santa Clara player Bonnie Bowman wears protective headgear during a game. Her team plays in the N.C.A.A. quarterfinals on Saturday.

Associated Press
North Carolina's Elizabeth Guess, right, and Santa Clara's Micaela Esquivel tried to head the ball in an N.C.A.A. playoff game Nov. 20.

Kevin Rivoli for The New York Times

Patrick Fisher, product manager for Full90, modeling the headgear that the company sells to soccer players. The device weighs less than 2 ounces.

[lepton]

"I'd challenge any of these doctors who feel this has no value to run into the goal post without a Full90 and with it, then tell me, if they were forced to do it a third time, whether or not they would wear it," said Dorrance, whose team is also sponsored by Full90.

With or without, why run into a goal post?

[kdot]

I actually had a parent give me the, "If it saves just one child..." argument.

[Bernard]

Patient: "Doctor, Doctor - it hurts when I do this!"

Doctor: "Don't do that!"

What a great way to treat a symptom and not solve a problem. It's obvious to me that a small child should not deliberately hit themselves in the head with a ball. If the smaller age-groups would just not allow headers, this would not be a problem. And if anybody produces medical proof that nobody should header a soccer ball, just outlaw the move.

[general_re]

I played for ten years and refereed for ten years - never saw a player run into the goalpost, not even once. No doubt it happens, but often enough to require headgear?

[festus]

I thought the whole point of soccer was to get the little ones to smash their brains to mush with the ball so they'd grow up to be good little commies like the countries where soccer comes from.

Headgear will defeat that whole object.

This will never stand.

[Tallguy]

If heading a soccer ball is really that dangerous....may I suggest the Nintendo version? (Sarcasm)

Seriously, the headgear looks more like a padded headband. I wonder just how effective that it would be. Many serious concussions are really caused by the whipping action to the cervical vertibrae of the neck. A little padding on the noggin isn't going to prevent that. This looks like more of a girls' fashion statement than a serious piece of athletic equipment.

[hemi dawg]

The goal-keeper is most at risk for running into a post, or getting kicked in the head. I've seen both. I support any keeper who wants to protect his/her head.

Our daughter plays and we worry about her as she gets older and the game gets more physical. We would never allow her to play goal--too dangerous. Outside of goal, the main risk is ACL injury. In addition to high-speed headers, there are plenty of elbows to the head as well as the dreaded head-to-head collision. Head-gear? By all means.

[soccer_linux_mozilla]

The downside, as I see it, is that if they achieve wide adoption or even by those who elect to use them, there is a very real possiblity that they will effect certain player's play. Like shinguards, knee pads, etc. there will be players who will use them for more agressive contact. Rather than head contact being a painful accident, players with protective gear, may integrate it into their playing style, which, as in football and hockey, could theortically increase the number and seriousness of injuries the headgear was developed to prevent.

[soccer_linux_mozilla]

[soccer_linux_mozilla]

Manufacturer's website

http://www.full90.com/

[turnrightnow]

The player most likely to run into the goal is the keeper. My daughter is an aggressive keeper, and did bang her head on the post once. She was diving and slid into the post. She suffered a severe concussion last year from a kick to the head while smothering a ball. She will wear headgear this week when the the high school season begins to minimize the risk of another concussion. Some protection is better than no protection.

I agree, though, that headgear should not be mandatory. Each parent should be free to choose for his/her own child. I am glad that headgear is available, and we will test it out and decide for ourselves.

[Squantos]

Me thinks Ryans getting a fine little cut of the gazillion to be made from such mandates.......

[Colonel_Flagg]

Peter Schilperoort, president of the association, said headgear prevented bumps and cuts previously suffered by his players, calling the equipment "the best thing since sliced bread."

I've coached youth soccer. If Mr. Schilperoort's association has had head injuries to u-8 players, then he has more worries than just helmets.

At that level players should be honing basic skills and learning to play safely and fairly, not causing blows to the head. Now, I'm well aware that at that age most soccer is just a scrum around the ball and accidents happen, but proper coaching is key to that.

[neverdem]

With or without, why run into a goal post?

IMHO, I think that they're alluding to a collision with an opponent resulting in a fall near the goal post. If it can just save one header, etc.

[Colonel_Flagg]

Key to preventing that, I should have said :)

[turnrightnow]

If you think that the Full90 or other headgear is seen as a "fashion statement", then you obviously don't have a teenage girl!

My daughter has agreed to wear one this season after a nasty concussion last year. She's not thrilled about it, but has accepted it.

[Casloy]

It's soccer, who cares.

[drhogan]

i agree. but the people who run kid's soccer, especially the competitive travel teams, are not reasonable individuals.
i had to assert myself to get a coach to stop games immediately when there was lightning. the parents had voted, and the coach went along with it, to keep the game going, because the lightning "wasn't close yet". the majority of parents of kids on the team thought it was reasonable to have the kids (little girls!) continue playing until the lighning got close!