While the new header rule in youth soccer is widely accepted by many, because of the danger in potential traumatic brain injury (TBI) while performing the skill, it is ineffective in that youth soccer players will not learn how to properly do a header while still developing their skills. Although there is a large risk in doing headers at any age, there is an even more considerable risk in not properly teaching headers at a young age. Making contact with the head and the ball is considered to be dangerous for the brain, as well as the possibility of making contact with other players’ heads when going up to perform the skill. There is danger, however, in not knowing how to properly head the ball. The proper way to head the ball is with a steady …show more content…
The cause of injury in any sport generally derives from the contact made with other players. This is evident in sports such as american football, rugby, and presumably soccer. One can infer the general injuries caused by these sports; sprained ankles, ACL tears, and broken bones are all examples of injuries that can happen in a contact sport whether or not a collision occurs with another player. It is assumed that collision with other players is also a cause of concussion or TBI among athletes in any contact sport. The impact created by two soccer players going up for a header on the same ball is as dangerous, if not more than the actual physical act of heading the ball alone. According to Janet E. Joy and Margie Patlak, “Concussions are usually caused by head collisions with players, goalposts, or the ground.” (Joy, Patlak, 1). While the risk of the header is mentioned it is stated that these three aspects of the game are the most common cause of concussions in soccer and injury to the brain. While heading the ball is an important aspect of the game, it is not all the time that players are going up to make these plays, so the probable cause of a majority of the head injuries recorded from soccer are from collisions with other players or the ground, considering there are not many plays occurring near or around each of the …show more content…
Recently, the concussion band has been introduced into soccer, especially among younger players, that can be worn. It is a headband that tightly wraps around the head to provide protection from not only headers but other contact to the head. In a 2006 soccer match, goalkeeper, Petr Cech who now plays for Arsenal, fractured his skull when a player collided with his head while making a save. Fortunately, Cech was able to return to play and continues to play today. However, he now wears what has come to be known as “The Petr Cech Helmet”. This first hand experience with TBI provides the evidence needed to support wearing protective equipment in contact sports. “In the population studied, 47.8% had experienced symptoms of a concussion during the current football year. 26.9% of athletes who wore headgear (HG) and 52.8% of those who did not wear headgear (No-HG) had concussions.” (Delaney, Al-Kashmiri, Drummond, Correa). While there is still risk in being affected by TBI when wearing protective headgear, there is a significantly lower risk in wearing headgear than no protective equipment at all. Furthermore, a header is not always intentional in a game, a ball may hit a player by accident in the head. Protective head gear can reduce the risk of
Because of this, my paper will look at the issue of headgear in contact sport and will particularly look at this issue at junior sports level. Wearing headgear has many positives, reducing injuries is the most obvious one and it could be argued that its help reduces the chance of injuries and even death. At an elite level, Chelsea goalkeeper, Petr Cech is convinced that wearing headgear saved him from suffering extended injuries after colliding with Fulham striker Orlando Sa back in September 2011. Headgear offers a form of padding when worn. It allows juniors and elite athlete’s the reduced chance of head wounds.
For the safety of the players in the present and future, a stricter concussion protocol should be required at all levels of football. Though improvements have been made, the game of football is constantly changing and the protocol needs to keep up with the changes. Today’s athletes are bigger, stronger, and faster than ever before: "Size and physical conditioning techniques in sports at all levels have evolved to create an intense athlete. They 're able to create more force, power and speed than ever before and that leads to harder hits and a greater number of hits" (Neporent). These advances in training have led to a more dangerous sport. The protocol has improved in recent years along with an emphasis on player safety, but the increasing numbers of players with long-term effects of concussions show there is still work to be done.
Following behind motor vehicle crashes, traumatic brain injury in sports is the second leading cause of traumatic brain injuries for people fifth-teen to twenty-four years of age. Immense concerns follows given that American football accounts for the highest incidence of concussions (Rowson and Duma 2130). In addition, th...
For instance, a concussion occurs when an outside force causes the brain to move violently back and forth and hit the wall of the skull. Concussions result in loss of consciousness, confusion, headaches, nausea or vomiting, and blurred vision. The damaged caused by concussions is permanent, and there is no cure for it. Usually, the only remedy prescribed by doctors is at least two weeks of rest before resuming sports and similar activities. A concussion usually occurs when players collide violently into each other at high speeds. In his article“The Helmet Wars,” Tom Foster points out that “Professional football players receive as many as 1,500 hits to the head in a single season, depending on their position. That’s 15,000 in a 10-year playing career,
Concussions and the effect they have on people ranging from the young to the old has become a very popular discussion in recent years. Generally people watch sports for entertainment and then there are those who engage in high impact sports from a very young age on. The people at home know how fun playing in a sport is, however they may not know the brutal consequences for some participating in that sport. Injuries to the brain are a main concern among those in the world of high impact sports. Football, soccer, wrestling, lacrosse, and rugby are among sports that athletes receive injuries in. The injuries vary from sprains, to fractures, to torn MCL or ACL, and bruised organs. Concussions are a severe type of injury endured by athletes in the sports world and this life changing injury is one that people are becoming more aware of.
A. Background In recent years, there has been an increase in research investigating the long-term effects of repeated head trauma on the brain, especially in athletes. Following his discovery of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), Dr. Bennet Omalu inspired a movement of research aimed at establishing better safety standards and protocols in football. It was not until 2002 that the initial connection between repetitive head trauma, such as concussions, and brain injury was suspected (Ott, 2015). As common as concussions were during the late 1970s and 1980s, they were often swept under the rug, as they were seen as insignificant injuries.
In American football, helmets are required to decrease traumatic brain injuries and have been successful in doing so. A large part in the success of helmet design is improvements in technology. The sizes of athletes have gone up to make football more dangerous. To protect against brain injury, helmets designs have changed to become heavier and wider, filled within the space are energy absorbing materials, air space and padding to protect the skull upon impact. Originally, helmets were designed to prevent only traumatic brain injuries, but technology is advancing to fill the gap of concussions. Until recently, the seriousness of concussions were not considered part of the equation that needed to be addressed, so manufactures did not utilized in constructing helmets to address this issue (Post et al. 653). Upon predicting risk of concussions in tests, by themselves linear and rotational acceleration are not suitable measurements for modern helmets. These testing measurements do not address the rotational forces and minor hits to the brain which are associated with concussions (Post et al. 654). Given the seriousness of concussions in contact sports, more attention is given to prevent and reduce concussions through testing methods and advancing technology, stronger regulation and changes to the sport. As stated in the article involving the National Football League (NFL), “The risk involved in playing sports are also very real. The NFL is struggling with serious mental and physical health problems because they sustained repeated mild traumatic brain injuries, is what concussions are called. (“Concussions and Marketing of Sports Equipment” 6).
Football is one of the most popular sports in the world. It is played in a lot of different ways, fashions, and other countries. It can be a very brutal sport with players hitting at the intent to hurt one another. With these intents come great consequences. In recent years the head injuries involved with this brutal game play have been getting uncomfortably high. Many rules have had to be enforced for player safety, because of the increase of head injuries resulting in tragic effects on players both old and new. One of the injuries that have had the most devastating effects is the concussion.
In today’s world, the benefits of sports are huge. Sports are a way of teaching key skills that parents can’t such as sportsmanship, social values and many more. One of the most popular sports all over the world is soccer; hence soccer is the first sport that many children play and later on love. Within the past couple years, controversies have arisen over whether or not children should be heading the soccer ball while playing. For example, a header in soccer is when the player redirects the ball with their forehead, by taking it out of the air, to pass, or to shoot. With all the concussion prevention and media that has been centered on the NFL recently, the spotlight has turned over to soccer.
Even though the advantages of the helmet designs are extensive, the football players are put in dangerous and sometimes unexpected situations on the field. Players are running and hitting each other at full speed while not taking into consideration what they are doing, and considering the consequences. Sometimes with head related injuries, these players may not feel any symptoms until later on in the day, or even day...
Everyone has heard about the so called “Concussion Epidemic” in the National Football League. The stories are everywhere from SportsCenter to local news stations. Concussions are when a person gets hit on the head or even somewhere else on the body and the brain slams into the skull due to the impact. If concussions are such a big deal in the pros, what does it mean for youth sports in America? Nearly 15 percent of all sports related injuries in high school athletes are concussions(American Headache Society). Concussions are a major health concern for youth sports and everyday more research is being shown about the long term effects of repeated blows to the head.
Over Reacting and Fate in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Romeo and Juliet were described as'star crossed lovers' at the beginning of the play. The term'star crossed' refers to the stars one is born under; with this crossed means not to be. So by the beginning of the play, this love was already doomed. This play also contains strong, very emotional characters that bring about giving poor advice to Romeo and Juliet and soon leads to the death of the two lovers.
Recently, the topic of concussions and concussion prevention has gained widespread attention among athletes of all ages. Football in particular has received a large amount of attention due to the high rate of concussions among its participants. While efforts such as rule changes have been made to make football safer, these injuries are still occurring at a higher rate than what many feel is acceptable. What can be done to prevent these injuries from continuing? Can football be made safer while retaining the high speed nature of the sport? The answer lies within the realm of Physics.
Many reasons for this big change in sports related head injuries, mostly has to do with the protective equipment used and the regulation...
Should the fear of brain trauma, change the rules of sports for good? Athletes have been susceptible for brain injuries since contact sports were invented. Although some are familiar with this, many people are unaware of the long term ramifications that often come with these types of injuries. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, (ALS) is a disease that is slowly plaguing our nation, starting with athletes. It is one of the fatal repercussions of repetitive head trauma, that is often overlooked. CTE, also known as Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy is also a disease caused by head trauma that can drastically impact one’s life. CTE’s have a subset of different associated diseases such as Alzheimer's, Dementia, Parkinsons, and Huntingtons disease.