DC STODDERT SOCCER
October 30, 2007
MEMORANDUM
TO: DC Stoddert Soccer Coaches/Parents
FROM: Len Oliver, Director of Coaching
Kate Samsot, Travel Director
RE: Recent Concerns about Heading and Soccer Injuries
Recent articles in the NY Times and Washington Post have addressed the topic of sports injuries, especially among high school soccer-playing girls. In the headlines, one sees “concussions” prevalent among these injuries, causing parental concern, especially for their teen-aged daughters. In this context, we want to address frequently asked questions regarding heading, head injuries, headgear, and proper training.
At the outset, some perspective is important. In the NY Times article, there is only one mention of a concussion, and that came from players hitting heads, not heading the ball. In the Post article, there again is one mention of concussion, again from a head hitting a “jaw.” While concussions can and do occur in soccer (as in other sports), they are not ordinarily the result of heading the ball.
Moreover, knee injuries (particularly ACL damage) are a far more prevalent injury among girl soccer players than problems from heading the ball. Coaches and parents should be aware of this type of injury and make sure their girls receive proper strengthening/conditioning exercises designed specifically for soccer players. Extra agility-fitness training can help strengthen the muscles around the key muscles and ligaments to prevent injuries. These exercises are published and generally available.
We will be scheduling a future coaching session on exercises for girl soccer players with Karen Kelser or Kate Samsot, during either our winter indoor coaching sessions or during the in-season recreational coaches clinics. Stay tuned for information on this session.
Heading and Head Injuries
There have been a number of extensive studies of heading and head injuries. There is no definitive evidence that heading a soccer ball causes concussions or other problems. Consistent with the statement of the U.S. Soccer Federation (Appendix A below), we believe that if heading a ball is properly taught, and if the players understand the technique (Appendix B below), then there is no danger from heading a ball.
Parents sometimes ask about soccer-specific headgear. FIFA Laws governing the game at all levels state, under the player safety clause, that it is acceptable and optional for a player to wear a headband. However, this equipment cannot be made mandatory at any level.
"Full 90" is one company that makes soccer headbands. The marketing has changed over the years from heading concerns to head-to-head, head-to-goalpost, and head-to-ground impact. However, the effectiveness of the product for these purposes has never been proven.
A few years ago, the Massachusetts State Legislature passed a law mandating soccer players to wear headbands, and the U.S. Soccer Federation submitted the studies and threatened to ban their players (see Appendix A below). The State Legislature rescinded the ban in the face of substantial evidence declaring heading a soccer ball to be safe.
You can get hurt in any sport. Proper training and technique — not headgear — are the keys.
DC Stoddert Soccer Policy on Heading
q Do not start heading a ball in practice until players are 10 years old. At this age, neck muscles for heading are stronger and coaches can emphasize proper technique. Note: It is about this age that the ball gets into the air more, from
goalie punts, to long balls cleared out of the back, to crosses in the box.
q Control heading drills. Take air out of the ball. Use softer balls. Practice heading no more than 15 minutes at a time.
q Teach players proper technique. Eyes open, mouth closed. Attack the ball. Strike the ball at your hairline. Time your jump to strike the ball. Turn your body slightly to assure that the contact is arm to arm, hip to hip for protection.
q Heading Drills for Proper Technique (See NSCAA Recommendations Below and stoddert.com (“Coaches’ Notebook—No. 7”)
Appendix A
Soccer Federation Statement on Head Injuries in Soccer and Padded Headgear (9/30/2005)
An emerging issue in the world of soccer is the use of padded headgear by players. USSF has received a number of inquiries from its members about whether use of headgear is either appropriate or recommended.
FIFA Laws of the Game, Law 4, “The Players’ Equipment,” does not include headbands in its list of basic compulsory equipment. However, under the “Safety” clause of Law 4, players who opt to use padded headgear should be permitted to do so, so long as the referee confirms that the equipment is not “dangerous to [the player] or another player.”
While players should be given the option of using headgear, it is not permissible for any USSF member or affiliate to require use of headgear by players. USSF Bylaw 104 states that FIFA Laws of the Game shall apply to soccer games that occur under the purview of USSF. FIFA Laws of the Game, Law 4, provides a specific list of mandatory equipment (including jersey, shorts, socks, shoes, and shin guards). Headgear is not on this list, and it is not within the authority of USSF’s members to amend the Laws of the Game in this way.
It is important to point out that there is much to learn about headgear. A recent study sponsored by FIFA’s sports medicine committee concluded that headgear provides no measurable benefit in head-to-ball impacts, but does provide “measurable benefit” in subconcussive head-to-head impacts. However, there are still many unanswered questions — most importantly, the extent to which this sort of headgear diminishes the risk of concussions, if at all. USSF’s Sports Medicine Committee continues to monitor the available literature and push for further research on such questions as whether decreasing impact force translates into decreasing concussions and whether use of headgear creates a false sense of security among players or causes them to play more aggressively.
It is also important to remind players, coaches, and parents that headgear is not a substitute for proper medical evaluation and treatment of concussions. Consultation with a doctor is always a best first step after suffering any sort of head injury.
USSF and its Sports Medicine Committee will continue its efforts to stay educated in this area and to update USSF members when appropriate.
Appendix B
Technical Series — Heading
Proper technique begins with the fundamentals
Coaching Corner: NSCAA Coaching Academy
By: Ron Ost, Tim Schum, Karen Stanley and Jeff Vennell
As with all techniques that are taught at the
NSCAA
Academy , a session on heading will begin at the fundamental level, proceed to the game-related stage and conclude with a match (5v5 with goalkeepers).
The focus will be on the warm-up and fundamental stage.
Warm-Up
1. Each player with a ball, emphasis on striking the ball at the hairline. Players self-head ball back to hands as they jog across field and back. Stop at each line (sideline to sideline) to stretch.
2. Pairs with one ball. Moving across width of field, player running backwards tosses ball to oncoming player, who alternates heading to tosser’s feet and hands.
3. Pairs with one ball. Tosser on end of grid (15-20 yards long); header attacks balfor either defensive or attacking headers as he or she moves forward or backward to play ball.
4. Players with one ball each, head juggling to self. Add movement to a line and back while working in pairs. Make relay race— return to starting point if lose control of ball.
5. Pairs juggling. Hit ball twice and return to teammate; 3x, 4x, 5x and work numbers back to one touch.
Fundamental Stage
1. Pairs hold ball head high and head it out of hands (don’t toss it). Forces player to hit through the ball.
2. Pairs, lying on stomach. Use upper back and neck to head for power. Start with chin tucked down and, as ball is headed, extend forward.
3. Pairs, sitting position with hands and feet on the ground and hips lifted off ground. As tosser throws ball, header pushes his or her hips forward, and as they head the ball, drives hips back for power.
4. Sitting position in pairs. Emphasis on arching back, "chin in, chin forward" head posture as they meet ball tossed by teammate (lack of backspin on the ball indicates proper striking technique with the head.
· Watch that header doesn’t drop chin and hit ball with top of head;
· Strikes ball at full thrust, meets the ball "out front" of body or in front of vertical axis of body;
· Strikes ball on its top half (offensive heading) and head "down."
5. Kneeling position with hyper extended hips in pairs. Emphasis on striking "through the ball" with head and upper body to impart power to ball. Also have follow-through such that header lands on his or her hands when finished.
· Double groups and have two kneeling players self toss and try to play ball under hands of second player five yards away. Others have extra balls and retrieve. One-minute games.
6. Standing position in groups of two. Emphasis placed on hips and legs (staggered positioning of legs) when striking the ball. Watch total coordinated effort of body in heading. Introduce defensive heading with emphasis on striking bottom half of the ball for height.
· Short, short long game (see Diagram 1 (A)). In groups of four (extra player with balls), start with player in middle (X1) self-tossing and playing a short ball to second player (X2), who then heads long ball to X3. X3 plays ball into a pivoted X1 who plays short ball back to X3. X3 then plays long ball to X2, etc. Watch where surface of the ball is being struck.
7. Groups of three with a player in middle who redirects hand-served balls to one of the open players (see Diagram 1(B)). Emphasis on varied serves so that heading player adjusts body position to head the ball "in front" of them and, as much as possible, faces with his or her upper body toward the intended target player.
8. Jumping for headers.
A. Twelve players — six form circle and hold ball with two hands at head height for other six players to run at and jump and head clockwise, then counter-clockwise rotation (see Diagram 2). Rotate player’s roles.
· Watch for takeoff on foot closest to ball;
· Approaching the ball from side, must try to turn so that upper body is square to ball;
· Watch for arch and head thrust as in earlier instruction.
B. Groups of three: tosser, stationary player, header (fourth player with extra balls).
· Header performs headers over stationary player with two-footed takeoff from standing start;
· Header performs headers over stationary player with short run-up and one-footed takeoff;
· Have stationary player continuously jumping to distract header;
· Have headers try to strike balls offensively and defensively;
· Have headers try to strike balls to the server who moves to one side after tossing the ball to the header.
9. One ball per two players. Player performs three headers (offensive, defensive, his or her choice) with a player with a ball; players then move to another player with a ball (see Diagram 3). Alternate players with and without balls Next round — slide left, jump and head; slide right, jump and head; dive and head.
· Drill can be timed (one minute?) and greatest number by each team can be tallied;
· Can require a certain number of headers by each individual and lapsed time for team.
10. Moving triangle; 2 tosses ball to moving 1, who heads to feet of 3 (see Diagram 4). Change and have head to hands of either the server or third player (see Diagram 5). Change and have players punt ball out of hands, rather than toss ball.
11. Three groups of three players organized in triangles, each with a ball in a large area (see Diagram 6, parts A and B). Balls must always be tossed to a teammate, but upon toss, header may play ball to an open player from any triangular group. Repeat as triangles move freely about. Try with punts from hand and balls played from the ground.
12. 2v2 in 10 x 15-yard grid. Two players must stand on their end line acting as goalkeepers to defend their goal (the 10-yard line) (see Diagram 7). The other two players head the ball back and forth and try to score by heading it over the end line. The ball starts with a toss, but then must be headed back and forth only. If the ball drops, the two who were heading retreat to defend their goal line. The other two players pick up the ball where it dropped and attack by heading back and forth. If the keepers catch the ball, they start the tossing, heading action, etc. Score by heading the ball over the keepers (defensive headers) or by playing ball below head height (offensive heading).
