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?
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.
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.
This subject has been knocked around at many coaches meetings. The general consensus from the coaching community goes something like this.
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If players are taught the proper way to head a ball, there is little to no injury. The problem here is that there are so many amateur coaches out their in the youth leagues, a lot of them don't know how to teach it.
Serious head injuries occur in two ways:
1. Players bumping heads. This is by far the most common head injury.
2. Playing on a hard field and coming down unbalanced and hitting the head.
There is an even more serious issue and that is one of players jumping up and pulling down the goal post on their heads from a non secured goal.
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I can actually see the need for headgear for the ages of around 10 to 15. That is a crucial growing time for the head. But at 16 and up the remaining players that have not gone on to the fat sports know pretty much what they are doing and the head development is almost mature.
It is ridiculous for college players to be wearing head gear. But look at what liberal school is using them.