My point...don't trust coaches. They don't know. Referees definitely don't know.

I don't know about coaches, but referees are specifically trained such that they have to clear any possible concussion with a medical professional. They can't just do a concussion protocol and say the kid is ok themseleves.

My son banged heads with a teammate at training. The coach, who told me he was trained, did some tests and determined that he was OK but sat him out of the rest of practice. I took him to the concussion specialists at Inova and they determined it was pretty severe and he ended up missing about 7 weeks.

My point...don't trust coaches. They don't know. Referees definitely don't know.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"All the while strict heading/ concussion screening protocols are in enforced by the referees."

What strict heading/concussion screening protocols are enforced by referees? Thanks

If a U11 player gets hit in the head by the ball, intentional or unintentional, no matter how hard or soft, the play is stopped and they are subbed off by the ref. The coach will then wait to sub them back in. This is a protocol set forth by US Soccer. It's a huge issue that US Soccer is taking seriously. A majority of the rules surrounding the ban on headers at a young age commenced in 2016-2017.

Here is more guidance by US Youth Soccer:
https://www.usyouthsoccer.org/assets/1/6/usys_concussion_procedure_3.23.21.pdf

Referees, coaches and team administrators go though additional concussion prevention education when acquiring licenses and registering in VYSA.

I've been a player a coach and currently, I'm an active referee. If a U11 player or younger heads the ball, the referee stops play, asks the player if he's OK. Continues with a drop ball or indirect kick as the restart. They are not subbed off unless it's obvious. When there is an injury or the kid is just scared or whatever, he's subbed off and comes back in at the discretion of the coach. 99% of games do not have a trainer or any medical person present to make an accurate diagnosis. So it's up to the coach who DOES NOT have any medical training on how to identify concussions. If a kid gets subbed on, referees can stop the game and ask for the player to be subbed off if something is amiss but referees do not have any additional training to diagnose concussions.

My daughter was U13 last season. Even though they are allowed, headers are quite uncommon.

I only have boys, but they are not at all uncommon for U13 boys (my boys are now 15 and 17).

Anonymous wrote:"All the while strict heading/ concussion screening protocols are in enforced by the referees."

What strict heading/concussion screening protocols are enforced by referees? Thanks

If a U11 player gets hit in the head by the ball, intentional or unintentional, no matter how hard or soft, the play is stopped and they are subbed off by the ref. The coach will then wait to sub them back in. This is a protocol set forth by US Soccer. It's a huge issue that US Soccer is taking seriously. A majority of the rules surrounding the ban on headers at a young age commenced in 2016-2017.

Here is more guidance by US Youth Soccer:
https://www.usyouthsoccer.org/assets/1/6/usys_concussion_procedure_3.23.21.pdf

Referees, coaches and team administrators go though additional concussion prevention education when acquiring licenses and registering in VYSA.

Op here. Ok. Split opinions.
First: just watch the team1sports videos of the 2010 games. Fully heading punts and long balls. In fact, much of the game was headers.
Second: I agree with PP, heading does not cause concussions if done correctly. BUT repeated sub concussive heading could be a big problem. And again, I do know multiple players as I said that retired early for too many concussions, all from heading accidents. Third: Also agree that ACL tears are awful, but long term head injury? I would take the ACL tear any day.
This is DCUM so we can agree to disagree.

I’m sure you probably know this but heading does not cause concussions. Players are taught to head the ball properly. Concussions come from being hit by a ball when your body isn’t braced/prepared. I played soccer for 11 years. There was never a concussion from heading.

My daughter was U13 last season. Even though they are allowed, headers are quite uncommon. And certainly not on long punts. Mostly it’s on throw ins or maybe corner kicks but few and far between. Most are still afraid.

No. It’s part of the game.

Yes there are proven studies that show it can be a problem. but you statistically are just a likely to suffer an ACL tear. nobody ever talk about that 1 ACL is much worse than a single concussion .

"All the while strict heading/ concussion screening protocols are in enforced by the referees."

What strict heading/concussion screening protocols are enforced by referees? Thanks

Anonymous wrote:I believe US Soccer and VYSA both do not allow heading at practice or in games until U11. Then at U11-U13 there are restrictions on the practice amount for heading. All the while strict heading/ concussion screening protocols are in enforced by the referees.

There isn't much to be done when two players go up trying to head the same ball. I guess the ref can card one of them while they are vomiting on the sideline

My DW works in head trauma. The concussions are not the problem. It is the repeated sub-concussive events cumulatively in a young person. It is not good.

I believe US Soccer and VYSA both do not allow heading at practice or in games until U11. Then at U11-U13 there are restrictions on the practice amount for heading. All the while strict heading/ concussion screening protocols are in enforced by the referees.

Spin-off from BSC post: is anyone else concerned about the amount of heading of big balls at young ages?
I know several pro players who retired early for concussions. 4 personally.
Is there a reason we are still allowing headers for kids 13 and under?