National Academies Press: OpenBook
« Previous: Policy Implications
Suggested Citation:"Summary." Institute of Medicine. 2002. Is Soccer Bad for Children's Heads?: Summary of the IOM Workshop on Neuropsychological Consequences of Head Impact in Youth Soccer. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10362.
×

SUMMARY

As Dr. Hergenroeder reminded the audience, the policies that really matter are those that influence what happens on the field. From this perspective, the policymakers most relevant to head injuries in youth soccer players are the national sports associations and local organizations such as schools and soccer clubs.

As to federal policies, safety issues in children’s sports are often covered by the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) insofar as sports equipment is involved. In May 2000, the Commission held a workshop to examine the possible use of helmets in youth soccer players, but did not find that the available evidence warranted the mandatory adoption of helmets. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also monitors childhood injuries and funds research on injury prevention, but has not recommended against heading in youth soccer. Finally, the National Institutes of Health is the major federal supporter of medical research, but currently supports fewer than half a dozen grants related to head injuries in children’s sports.

No peer-reviewed studies have been published to support or refute the use of helmets in soccer and no authoritative medical or sports organizations have recommended the use of helmets in soccer.

Different speakers at the workshop viewed the dangers of heading in a variety of ways. Most, but not all, of the studies presented suggested that heading a soccer ball does not cause cognitive deficits. However, without definitive data there can be no conclusive resolution about the dangers of heading. Further, all of the studies reported at the workshop and in the published literature were based on adults or high school age players; none of the available data are based on pre-adolescent children. Several of the studies were not designed to definitively separate the effects of concussions from repetitive heading, an issue raised by several speakers during the workshop. Clarification of the long-term consequences of heading soccer balls awaits the outcome of well-designed prospective studies, such as the 5-year study being led by Dr. Kirkendall and funded by the United States Soccer Foundation.

In the meantime, the American Youth Soccer Organization recommends that children under 10 should not head the ball but continues to support the practice of purposeful heading for older soccer players. No peer-reviewed studies have been published to support or refute the use of helmets in soccer and no authoritative medical or sports organizations have recommended the use of helmets in soccer.

Ironically, while there has been considerable media coverage about the possible dangers of heading, there has been comparatively little public attention to the dangers of concussion. Without exception, every speaker at the workshop concurred about the need for a greater attention to concussions in youth sports. Concussions and especially multiple concussions are both more frequent and more serious than is commonly understood.

Many of the speakers emphasized that the people on the playing field and the sidelines— the players, referees, coaches, and trainers— especially need to become educated about the signs and symptoms of concussion and need clear evidence-based guidelines about how to decide when a player can return to play after sustaining a concussion.

Suggested Citation:"Summary." Institute of Medicine. 2002. Is Soccer Bad for Children's Heads?: Summary of the IOM Workshop on Neuropsychological Consequences of Head Impact in Youth Soccer. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10362.
×

FOR MORE INFORMATION

  1. Kirkendall DT, and Garrett WE, Heading in soccer: integral skill or grounds for cognitive dysfunction? Journal of Athletic Training, Vol. 36, No. 3, July-Sept 2001, p. 328-334.

  2. Giza CC, and Hovda DA, The neurometabolic cascade of concussion. Journal of Athletic Training, Vol. 36, No. 3, July-Sept 2001, p. 228-236.

  3. Guskiewicz KM, Ross SE, and Marshall SW, Postural stability and neuropsychological deficits after concussion in collegiate athletes. Journal of Athletic Training, Vol. 36, No. 3, July-Sept 2001, p. 263-274.

  4. Matser EJ, Kessels AG, Lezak MD, Jordan BD, and Troost J, Neuropsychological impairment in amateur soccer players. JAMA. 1999 Sept 8;282(10):971-3.

  5. Putukian M, Echemendia RJ, and Mackin S, The acute neuropsychological effects of heading in soccer: a pilot study. Clin J Sport Med. 2000 Apr;10(2):104-9.

Suggested Citation:"Summary." Institute of Medicine. 2002. Is Soccer Bad for Children's Heads?: Summary of the IOM Workshop on Neuropsychological Consequences of Head Impact in Youth Soccer. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10362.
×
This page in the original is blank.
Suggested Citation:"Summary." Institute of Medicine. 2002. Is Soccer Bad for Children's Heads?: Summary of the IOM Workshop on Neuropsychological Consequences of Head Impact in Youth Soccer. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10362.
×
Page 18
Suggested Citation:"Summary." Institute of Medicine. 2002. Is Soccer Bad for Children's Heads?: Summary of the IOM Workshop on Neuropsychological Consequences of Head Impact in Youth Soccer. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10362.
×
Page 19
Suggested Citation:"Summary." Institute of Medicine. 2002. Is Soccer Bad for Children's Heads?: Summary of the IOM Workshop on Neuropsychological Consequences of Head Impact in Youth Soccer. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10362.
×
Page 20
Next: Appendix A Workshop Agenda »
Is Soccer Bad for Children's Heads?: Summary of the IOM Workshop on Neuropsychological Consequences of Head Impact in Youth Soccer Get This Book
×
Buy Paperback | $21.00 Buy Ebook | $16.99
MyNAP members save 10% online.
Login or Register to save!
Download Free PDF

To explore whether soccer playing puts youths at risk for lasting brain damage, the Institute of Medicine brought together experts in head injury, sports medicine, pediatrics, and bioengineering. In a workshop entitled "Youth Soccer: Neuropsychological Consequences of Head Impact in Sports," that was held in Washington D.C. on October 12, 2001, these experts presented the scientific evidence for long-term consequences of head injury from youth sports, especially soccer, possible approaches to reduce the risks, and policy issues raised by the subject. Some of the findings presented by the speakers raised concerns, such as the high concussion rate of high school soccer players, the frequent persistence of impaired brain functions even after other symptoms of a concussion disappear, and the need for a better understanding of when it is safe for players to resume playing after they have had a concussion. But other findings were reassuring, such as studies that suggest that with the type of soccer balls used in the United States, heading is not likely to cause brain injury in youths, nor is playing soccer likely to cause permanent brain damage.

This is a summary of the reports from these experts in the field, and the lively discussions that followed them. Topics covered include: causes of head injuries in soccer; how to detect a concussion; the biology of concussion; studies of soccer and football players; the role of protective headgear; and policy implications, such as how to decide when a concussed player should be allowed to return to the playing field.

  1. ×

    Welcome to OpenBook!

    You're looking at OpenBook, NAP.edu's online reading room since 1999. Based on feedback from you, our users, we've made some improvements that make it easier than ever to read thousands of publications on our website.

    Do you want to take a quick tour of the OpenBook's features?

    No Thanks Take a Tour »
  2. ×

    Show this book's table of contents, where you can jump to any chapter by name.

    « Back Next »
  3. ×

    ...or use these buttons to go back to the previous chapter or skip to the next one.

    « Back Next »
  4. ×

    Jump up to the previous page or down to the next one. Also, you can type in a page number and press Enter to go directly to that page in the book.

    « Back Next »
  5. ×

    Switch between the Original Pages, where you can read the report as it appeared in print, and Text Pages for the web version, where you can highlight and search the text.

    « Back Next »
  6. ×

    To search the entire text of this book, type in your search term here and press Enter.

    « Back Next »
  7. ×

    Share a link to this book page on your preferred social network or via email.

    « Back Next »
  8. ×

    View our suggested citation for this chapter.

    « Back Next »
  9. ×

    Ready to take your reading offline? Click here to buy this book in print or download it as a free PDF, if available.

    « Back Next »
Stay Connected!