Player Safety

U.S. SOCCER LEARNING CENTER:

CONCUSSIONS:

Concussions affect both boys and girls; while girls have a higher documented rate of concussion at 36 per 100,000. Most soccer related concussions are caused by hard falls to the ground, collisions with other players, or even when attempting to head the ball but rather making contact with the opposing player.

Symptoms that may be seen in the injured concussed athlete: headaches, dizziness, nausea, coordination/balance issues, vision disturbances, personality/emotional instability, and amnesia. Please keep in mind that symptoms are not always immediately evident and the injured athlete needs to be evaluated and reevaluated until resolution of symptoms. Concussions can lead to debilitating brain injury if not taken seriously. There is a need for coaches, parents, and athletes to make themselves familiar with concussion signs and symptoms.

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US Youth Soccer and the CDC have teamed up to help keep young athletes safe from concussion. They have developed Heads Up: Concussion in Youth Sports, a training program for coaches.

“Heads Up: Concussion in Youth Sports,” is designed to help coaches, parents, and fellow athletes recognize the symptoms of a concussion and provides actions that need to be taken when an athlete is showing signs of a concussion. Campaign materials are available at no cost and include:

An online training for coaches;

A fact sheet for coaches;

A fact sheet for athletes;

A fact sheet for parents;

A magnet with concussion facts for coaches and parents;

A poster with concussion facts for coaches and sports administrators; and

A quiz for coaches, athletes, and parents.

Further information can be found here.

The CDC Heads Up! training course can be found here. We highly recommend that coaches and parents alike take the time to review the information provided. View and download the Fact Sheet here.