<p>My D has played soccer on traveling teams and school teams since 4th grade.
She is now playing in college. She had two concussions a week apart last Fall, one from falling on her head after impact, and one from impact with another player’s moving body part.
H and I are very concerned. The college coach and athletic trainer are blase about it. The hospital folks were not emphatic in their warnings to her. She did get sent in for a brain image, but still played. We have given her one of those skeletal helmet thingies, but doubt she wears it much (non of the other girls do), and wonder how protective it is anyway.</p>
<p>She also had three serious concussions the Spring before playing rugby. Apparently, concussions and post-game hospital trips are extremely common in that sport. Soccer IMO is getting more like rugby these days, unfortunately.</p>
<p>This is an issue that needs to be addressed.
There are not enough penalties against rough play called at the games. The girls do it till they get caught, basically.
I am also concerned about the lack of helmets for female lax and field hockey players…</p>
<p>My D has had a number of health problems related to a swollen hypothalamus since all this happened. Is it worth it? We are having a hard time with this- she will not stop playing… Authorities like a coaches or doctors must be the one to communicate authoritatively, and none of them ever do.</p>
<p>I know one of the families on the show and I feel so bad for them. Their son was not an athlete but the daughter was apparently very good. The team did travel to tournaments in many states, it was not just a locally good team, but competed nationally. I’m sure a lot of the girls had real futures as far as athletic scholarships. The family I know is so nice and the mom especially is very sweet, she was always one of those really good sweet girls, even in high school.</p>
<p>I feel extra bad because they are going through this with the daughter and have a very close relative with very bad cancer. I sure hope things start going better for them. How much stress should one family have at a time?</p>
<p>If your child gets a concussion, PLEASE have it thoroughly evaluated. Lifelong brain damage is not a good risk/reward balance for a scholarship. Until I watched this piece I had no idea how it had affected their life. My brother is good friends with the dad, and that is how I know them, so I had only heard bits and pieces of her condition. I know they are good, attentive parents (mom is the sweet protective type) so I know they got medical advice. Bad advice or bad luck?</p>
<p>I’ve had 3 concussions now. 1 from volleyball which was followed by another 2 weeks later in basketball. At that time, 5 years ago, none of my coaches even told my parents to watch for symptoms after taking 1 pretty good blow to my head. It wasn’t until 1 week after my 2nd one that a teacher asked me what was wrong and I told him that I felt like I was going to pass out after getting hit in the head a week prior. He had 7 concussions so he immediately had the nurse call my parents to take me doctor asap. 3rd one came from accidently hitting my head on a car frame on move in day for college. I see a neurologist whenever I have problems. I have migraines monthly, and I’ve accepted the fact that I have a greater chance of mental problems. I’m monitoring my mental health very closely in case I become depressed so I can see my doctor asap.</p>
<p>I’m glad to see there is a increase in the awareness of concussions and what they can do. For me my mother still does not believe in all the new facts, and findings coming out so to her I am a liar that had make believe symptoms. We will probably never have a close relationship because of that. </p>
<p>I hope that research continues to concussions and protective gear becomes mainstream, if it is possible.</p>
<p>Concussions are to be given all the consideration they deserve. Anyone who has suffered one should proceed with extreme care in returning to athletic activities. The evidence of considerable health issues in football is overwhelming. </p>
<p>However, most discussions regarding soccer are downright hysterical, in all sense of the term. It is one thing to recommend wearing a helmet to a goalkeeper with previous head injuries, and quite another to believe this could be an universal idea. For starters, the helmet itself would probably CAUSE more injuries than protect the wearers, and that is why the uniform rules (when applied properly by non-amateurs) are so strict. Is the game of football really safer with the current crop of helmets? Was it not better in the days of leatherheads? </p>
<p>It is also hilarious that the country (and that is the United States) that has a profound affinity for the most violent parodies of sport is the source for most of the discussions about injuries in soccer. We have all kind of extreme sports and our beloved football! Yet, we believe that soccer, a game that has the biggest draw worldwide, might the one to watch. And the one to screw with through the introduction of asinine … US rules! The reality is that, based on its extremely large participation, soccer remains one of the safest sports around. Of course, as in every sport that invites players to share the same space, there are contacts, but to claim that the sport is inherently dangerous and violent, is pure heresy. </p>
<p>And if were indeed dangerous, what is the yardstick for comparisons? Synchronized swimming or curling? What say you about gymnastics for young girls, football in middle school, skateboarding, snowboarding, horse-riding, bicycling, surfing, and a myriad other sports that present continuous dangers.</p>
<p>The thing that is different from football vis-a-vis head protection and goalkeepers is the introduction of the foot and screw in cleat. At no time in a football game is someone generating as much force as possible and potentially striking at your head with cleated foot . . . and I speak from experience.</p>
<p>The mechanics are different in each sport, and so are the risks of injuries. Is a baseball player attempting to steal second base protected from the cleats of the opponent? Are the soccer shoes really more “dangerous” than the metal cleats used in baseball? Are the soccer shoes more “scary” than ice hockey blades? Are the balls used in baseball or softball less dangerous than a soccer ball? We could go on and on for a long time.</p>
<p>As far as the dangers for head injuries, many observers (rarely people with a modicum of interest or knowledge of soccer or sports) tend to focus on contacts between players AND on the dangers of heading the ball. A typical conclusion reads as follows: </p>
<p>Heading is only a small part of the risk, Xiggi.</p>
<p>Soccer (field hockey, rugby and female lax)players are naked compared to football and hockey players.
I am not as familiar with vball and bball- they are naked, too.</p>
<p>Impact sports with dangerous tools like cleats and sticks scream for protection and also great attention to foul play. </p>
<p>Women’s soccer is a different game from mens’. And their game has changed a great deal in the last 10 years- it is much faster, much more violent, and the ball skills have not kept up with those increases.</p>
<p>I still believe that soccer IS the most beautiful sport (to play AND watch), but something has to change in the female version in HS and college.</p>
<p>Soccer is, bar none, my favorite sport to watch. But, have you seen a women’s soccer game at the National Team or Regional Team level? In high school?</p>
<p>These games are dangerous. My own daughter has been put on a board and put in an ambulance and MRI’d more than once, and she is not the only one.</p>
<p>I don’t think you are more qualified than my local pediatrician who teaches at Northwestern. Women’s soccer is just a flat out dangerous sport. People don’t realize it unless they are involved.</p>
<p>You are usually quite well-informed. I’m surprised you would venture in so ill-equiped to make a rational statement.</p>
<p>Would you mind trying to make a point without being insulting. I know how hard that is for you, but give it a try. Also read my post again! As far as getting a clue, here’s a data point for you. Between my sister and me, we have been playing soccer For FORTY years on dozens of teams, including state and national selections. During those years, members of our teams have had injuries, but concussions have been extremely rare, especially when compared to ankle and knee injuries. Simply stated, there is no comparison with football and Lax in terms of violent contacts. I know that because of personal experience.</p>
<p>As far as the studies go, most are based on small samples and exhibit obvious biases. The diagnostics of concussion are vaguely defined, including evidence of headaches or simple dizziness or disorientation. Some of those symptoms are related to fatigue, dehydration, or excessive efforts. In addition, sampling high schools is hardly the best field for soccer. While sports such as football, lacrosse, and basketball are school-centric, that is NOT the case of soccer which is club-centric at the highest levels. </p>
<br>
<br>
<p>People who know me in real life would smile at that question. Feel free to contact me via PM and I will share a few details. I hope that six national championships and three gold medals might suffice.</p>
<p>The only way to properly address a problem is to correctly measure it in its adequate context.</p>
<p>Xiggi:
As the parent of a baseball catcher who has come into contact with a lot of metal cleats I would say that the risks are different. Catchers have gear, they are semi-upright and usually initiating contact with the whole body when the cleats come at them - it is dangerous but there are rules governing the type and timing of contact in youth/HS baseball and the contact is readily anticipated. Catcher, and second basemen for that matter, train specifically for safety and proper technique around those situations.</p>
<p>When a goalkeeper is kicked in the head it is not anticipated and predictable in timing and is almost always unintentional. The keeper is completely exposed. And, you pictured plastic molded soccer cleats rather than the interchangeable ones with the screw in metal core. It’s never fun in either case, but the others do more surface damage.</p>
<p>I have no dog in this fight, but Xiggi if you would like to be treated with respect you need to treat others with respect, not belittle them or their concerns.</p>
<p>“Hysterical”
“Hilarious”
“Pay attention”</p>
<p>Each child only comes equipped with one brain as far as I know, and it’s hard to do much without it functioning.</p>
<p>quote:
“During those years, members of our teams have had injuries, but concussions have been extremely rare, especially when compared to ankle and knee injuries. Simply stated, there is no comparison with football and Lax in terms of violent contacts. I know that because of personal experience.”</p>
<hr>
<p>I know from personal experience that I have had 2 concussions in my life and both occurred on the soccer field - the result of a foot strike to the head while playing keeper. I was 12 the first incident and 22 the 2nd - with the 2nd I ended up in ER with a large head wound and an interview with the neurologist.</p>
<p>Daughter has had 3 concussions, one of which put her out of school for weeks. Our HS has gotten very strict about use of an evidence-based concussion protocol - baseline IMPACT scores for all students, complete physical and cognitive rest in the event of symptomatic concussion (which has nothing to do with loss of consciousness) - and for that I am grateful. These are brain injuries.</p>
<p>D2 had two serious concussions. Both occurred when going up for a header vs. an opponent. Both times she collided with the other player and was smashed to the ground before she had a chance to break her fall with her arm. The second time, she had post concussion syndrome for months-her focus at school suffered, she became almost afraid to plant and turn because it would make her nauseated, even months after she’d been cleared to play by her doctor. A neurologist told me she should never play again, and if she insisted, that she should never, ever go for a header again. That’s an awful hard thing to suppress in an aggressive defender. I confess that I was basically relieved this fall when she had to have knee surgery at the beginning of soccer season, so she is done.</p>
<p>It’s a shame, because she really loved the sport. But no sport is worth her intellect.</p>
<p>That just makes my blood run cold. An initial concussion can be worrisome, but a second concussion right on the heels of a previous concussion can be fatal.</p>
</p>![http://www.google.com/imgres?q=baseball+cleat&um=1&hl=en&sa=N&qscrl=1&nord=1&rlz=1T4ACGW_en___MX387&biw=1027&bih=526&tbm=isch&tbnid=vqxRFkeZoVcIdM:&imgrefurl=http://www.overstock.com/Sports-Toys/Adidas-Diamond-King-DS-Mens-Baseball-Cleats/3141403/product.html&docid=kqi9J_srkJ5FOM&imgurl=http://ak2.ostkcdn.com/images/products/0/83/83443.jpg&w=250&h=250&ei=H66tT7jVGsnLgQer9pWVCQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=609&vpy=85&dur=1590&hovh=200&hovw=200&tx=118&ty=158&sig=105756959938673063188&page=2&tbnh=162&tbnw=169&start=10&ndsp=15&ved=1t:429,r:8,s:10,i:181[/url]](http://www.google.com/imgres?q=baseball+cleat&um=1&hl=en&sa=N&qscrl=1&nord=1&rlz=1T4ACGW_en___MX387&biw=1027&bih=526&tbm=isch&tbnid=vqxRFkeZoVcIdM:&imgrefurl=http://www.overstock.com/Sports-Toys/Adidas-Diamond-King-DS-Mens-Baseball-Cleats/3141403/product.html&docid=kqi9J_srkJ5FOM&imgurl=http://ak2.ostkcdn.com/images/products/0/83/83443.jpg&w=250&h=250&ei=H66tT7jVGsnLgQer9pWVCQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=609&vpy=85&dur=1590&hovh=200&hovw=200&tx=118&ty=158&sig=105756959938673063188&page=2&tbnh=162&tbnw=169&start=10&ndsp=15&ved=1t:429,r:8,s:10,i:181%5B/url%5D){kind=link}
![http://www.google.com/imgres?q=soccer+cleat&um=1&hl=en&sa=N&qscrl=1&nord=1&rlz=1T4ACGW_en___MX387&biw=1027&bih=526&tbm=isch&tbnid=Nc8xsSPctjKQkM:&imgrefurl=http://www.foxriverhurlingclub.com/about.html&docid=ui4u06GRjhS6eM&imgurl=http://www.foxriverhurlingclub.com/uploads/soccer-cleats.jpg&w=707&h=456&ei=c66tT4SEBdP2ggei-MWvCQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=89&vpy=191&dur=796&hovh=180&hovw=280&tx=180&ty=82&sig=105756959938673063188&page=1&tbnh=136&tbnw=182&start=0&ndsp=10&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0,i:140[/url]](http://www.google.com/imgres?q=soccer+cleat&um=1&hl=en&sa=N&qscrl=1&nord=1&rlz=1T4ACGW_en___MX387&biw=1027&bih=526&tbm=isch&tbnid=Nc8xsSPctjKQkM:&imgrefurl=http://www.foxriverhurlingclub.com/about.html&docid=ui4u06GRjhS6eM&imgurl=http://www.foxriverhurlingclub.com/uploads/soccer-cleats.jpg&w=707&h=456&ei=c66tT4SEBdP2ggei-MWvCQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=89&vpy=191&dur=796&hovh=180&hovw=280&tx=180&ty=82&sig=105756959938673063188&page=1&tbnh=136&tbnw=182&start=0&ndsp=10&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0,i:140%5B/url%5D){kind=link}
