Soccer Ball Heading Issues....

[Blansky]

As some of us who have had a few concussions, a few concussions, a few concussions, .......sorry...... can attest or have long believed, that heading the ball in soccer is probably not too good for you.


My concussions came from hockey, but watching soccer and American football I constantly cringe at the use of the head in soccer and the neck and head snapping around when people are hit and tackled in football.

If I had kids playing soccer, I'd be concerned.

https://gizmodo.com/heading-a-soccer...-24-1841669473

Come to think of it, if I had kids, social services may be concerned, .....but that's a whole other thing.

[brandrea]

It explains why I am the way I am for sure

[dimag333]

my daughter plays soccer, they tell them not to head the ball

steve

[Zakalwe]

It's definitely becoming more of an issue. It's a subject that has only gained any kind of traction in the last few years, which is surprising because in this country and in many countries across the globe, the game is a religion. Then again that might help explain why the issue has long not been recognised - there's a vested interest in brushing such matters under the carpet. The Professional Footballers Association in England has not distinguished itself by the way it has failed to provide leadership on an issue that is clearly of huge significance to all of its members. There have been some high profile ex-footballers who have developed Alzheimer's and their cases have earned a degree of prominence (e.g. World Cup winner from 1966, Nobby Stiles). The evidence suggests footballers are at increased risk of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Motor Neurone Disease - https://www.theguardian.com/football...tball-dementia - though causality is yet to be definitively determined.

I will add though that many of the studies that have drawn those links, including the one I've linked to are looking at players who played the game 40, 50 or even more years ago. In those days a football was a ridiculous lump of heavy leather than absorbed water and got even heavier when it rained (i.e. all the time over here). Heading that thing bears little relationship to heading the comparatively feather-light balls that are standard nowadays. I suspect, though absolutely cannot prove that the numbers would not looks so bad had the old-timers been playing with today's balls.

I read an article recently calling for heading in the professional game to be banned. I think that is ludicrous. However the notion of stopping kids under a certain age from doing so might be worth considering, if the evidence demands it. As ever though with this sort of thing, you have to weigh up the possibility of unintended consequences. For example, playing football is generally very good for your cardiovascular health and getting kids into the game is a good way of ensuring they lead healthy lives. Anything that potentially discourages participation might result in more adverse health outcomes due to heart disease, years down the line. A complete ass-pull from me, granted, but you get the idea.

[Blansky]

Originally Posted by Zakalwe

It's definitely becoming more of an issue. It's a subject that has only gained any kind of traction in the last few years, which is surprising because in this country and in many countries across the globe, the game is a religion for many. Then again that might help explain why the issue has long not been recognised. There have been some high profile ex-footballers who have developed Alzheimer's and their cases have earned a degree of prominence (e.g. World Cup winner from 1966, Nobby Stiles). The evidence suggests footballers are at increased risk of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Motor Neurone Disease.

I will add though that many of the studies that have drawn those links are looking at players who played the game 40 or 50 years ago. In those days a football was a ridiculous lump of heavy leather than absorbed water and got even heavier when it rained (i.e. all the time over here). Heading that thing bears little relationship to heading the comparatively feather-light balls that are standard nowadays. I suspect though absolutely cannot prove that the numbers would not looks so bad had the old-timers been playing with today's balls.

I read an article recently calling for heading in the professional game to be banned. I think that is ludicrous. However the notion of stopping kids under a certain age from doing so might be worth considering, if the evidence demands it. As ever though with this sort of thing, you have to weigh up the possibility of unintended consequences. For example, playing football is generally very good for your cardiovascular health and getting kids into the game is a good way of ensuring they lead healthy lives. Anything that potentially discourages participation might result in more adverse health outcomes due to heart disease. A complete ass-pull from me, I grant you, but you get the idea.

Yeah, it's tough to go against the culture/history of a major sport, like soccer and boxing, and US football, and hockey, its become pretty clear that what happens to the brain inside the skull when it has pretty much ANY impact is rather serious.

They used to think it was the "hit" that caused injury so helmets alleviated that but now they know that helmets do very little to mitigate the injury because in fact it's the brain sloshing around inside the skull that causes, not just a brain bruise but a spinal cord attachment point injury.

Helmets lessen it a bit but not that much. AND once the injury occurs and you stay in the game the chance of a repeat impact is almost always serious.

And the powers that be, in the sports downplay it to stop lawsuits. The NFL and the NHL both fought like hell to pretend it wasn't a real issue.

[Zakalwe]

Originally Posted by Blansky

Yeah, it's tough to go against the culture/history of a major sport, like soccer and boxing, and US football, and hockey, its become pretty clear that what happens to the brain inside the skull when it has pretty much ANY impact is rather serious.

They used to think it was the "hit" that caused injury so helmets alleviated that but now they know that helmets do very little to mitigate the injury because in fact it's the brain sloshing around inside the skull that causes, not just a brain bruise but a spinal cord attachment point injury.

Helmets lessen it a bit but not that much. AND once the injury occurs and you stay in the game the chance of a repeat impact is almost always serious.

Sorry to go off topic slightly, but since you mentioned it...

Boxing really should be banned. Unlike the various codes of football, hockey and whatnot, the whole point is to damage your opponent, rather than it being an unintentional side-effect of the game. I'm in the medical profession and our union is absolutely and overwhelmingly in favour of an outright and immediate ban. All logic says they're right.

And yet I wouldn't ban it. The only reason I can give is a crap one - I love the sport and have followed it since I was a kid. There's cognitive dissonance for you.

So you're absolutely right, it's very tough to change people's entrenched views.

[Blansky]

Originally Posted by Zakalwe

Sorry to go off topic slightly, but since you mentioned it...

Boxing really should be banned. Unlike the various codes of football, hockey and whatnot, the whole point is to damage your opponent, rather than it being an unintentional side-effect of the game. I'm in the medical profession and our union is absolutely and overwhelmingly in favour of an outright and immediate ban. All logic says they're right.

And yet I wouldn't ban it. The only reason I can give is a crap one - I love the sport and have followed it since I was a kid. There's cognitive dissonance for you.

So you're absolutely right, it's very tough to change people's entrenched views.

And the whole issue of testosterone and the inability of males to think long term about such stuff.

I've had concussions in games and stayed in to play, and played the next night. Totally in denial.

[Brew]

My sister's kids played soccer, no heading the ball was permitted.

I have long wondered if/when allowing kids to play American football would be considered child abuse.

[singe89]

Former college football player and had 3 concussions that I know about. The problem back then was you came out for a play or two because "you got your bell rung" and as soon as you could make eye contact with the trainer and answer a couple simple questions you were back in the game. Concussion protocols as well as teaching proper tackling technique is making the game much safer.

[Blansky]

Originally Posted by singe89

Former college football player and had 3 concussions that I know about. The problem back then was you came out for a play or two because "you got your bell rung" and as soon as you could make eye contact with the trainer and answer a couple simple questions you were back in the game. Concussion protocols as well as teaching proper tackling technique is making the game much safer.

I think you're right on the protocols but I think we're in denial on tackling techniques and helmet protection.

Watch almost any play in football when they do the closeup tackling slow motion shots and watch the heads being jarred and snapping around.

I'd argue that the brain in there is rocking and rolling and I really don't see any way to stop it other than playing flag football, which we know ain't gonna happen with a multi-billion dollar sport.

We can always say, well it's the players choice, but with males from probably mostly lower income families, this is their way out of poverty, as it is with boxing, nothing much will change.

Hank Gathers in basketball had a serious heart condition, and played until he died on the court waiting for his chance at the NBA. Players will chance anything for the payday. He knew what his issues were and went off his meds to perform at his best for the scouts, but chanced it anyway, and lost.

[pickettt]

A different sport altogether, but cycling is making huge advancements in helmet designs that other sports might benefit from. The newer technologies are getting way past just putting material between the head and the hit. Think egg drop contest...with a skull and brain. Cycling helmets are also considered “one time use.” The difference of course is the repetition of hits that other sports dish out. If a cyclist is continually hitting his/her head, it time for them to find a different sport.

[Blansky]

This video is interesting and rather disturbing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55u5Ivx31og

[037]

I was on a flight recently where the guy behind me kept punching the back of my seat.

Wait, wrong thread.

I've had four good hits to the head that stand out, plus ice hockey and soccer as a kid. I'm doomed for sure but might not know it when it happens.

Today we're much smarter about wearing helmets, protecting our hearing, and avoiding concussive blasts whenever possible. The Internet, as much of a pain as it is sometimes, has been an excellent tool in spreading knowledge. We just need to get better in sorting truth from junk.

[Token74]

Originally Posted by 037

The Internet, as much of a pain as it is sometimes, has been an excellent tool in spreading knowledge. We just need to get better in sorting truth from junk.

So true!



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