World Cup Matches Highlight Great Soccer, But Danger is Not Erased
World Cup soccer is exciting, but anyone who knows what a brain injury can do sees the violence in the sport. This article describes the danger of contact with objects or other players. Heading causes the most brain injuries, as expected, but counterintuitively not from contact with the ball. Going up for a header greatly increases the probability of other kinds of contact. Simply playing soccer can result in brain injury. Goalkeepers are at most risk for injury. Some players have begun to wear protective gear, but soccer leagues for adults have not gotten behind this welcome safety trend. (Full story)
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Comments on: "SPEAK OUT! NewsBit . . . . . . . . . World Cup Matches Highlight Great Soccer, But Danger is Not Erased" (2)
This morning I found an article on the NY Times similar to the one posted above. It talks about the danger of heading the ball in soccer and implementing a new age rule for young players of not allowing them to head the ball until they reach 14 years old. I think, regardless of age, heading a soccer ball can lead to sustainable injury.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/25/sports/worldcup/us-womens-soccer-stars-take-lead-on-risks-of-heading.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&version=HpSum&module=second-column-region®ion=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=0
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Brittany,
Thank you for sending me the link to the NY Times article. That was really informative. Though it is progress that the campaign, Parents and Pros for Safer Soccer, is calling for a no heading rule of a soccer ball until age 14, I totally agree with you – heading still remains a dangerous aspect of the game. Teenage brains are still in their formative stages. In fact, heading can cause serious damage to any brain at any age. Heading seems such a senseless risk to take for a game, which could cause Traumatic Brain Injury affecting ones entire life.
In another category – SPEAK OUT! So Whaddya Think? – I have a post called “Children’s Brains at Risk.” (https://survivingtraumaticbraininjury.wordpress.com/2014/05/28/speak-out-so-whaddya-think-childrens-brains-at-risk/) It also discusses the dangers of a variety of sports that may cause brain injuries in young brains.
Brittany, thanks again for taking the time to read my blog and for your very thoughtful comments.
Donna O’Donnell Figurski
survivingtraumaticbraininjury.wordpress.com
donnaodonnellfigurski.wordpress.com
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