About five
percent of soccer players sustain brain injuries as a result of their
sport. This may occur from head to head contact, falls, or being
struck by the ball on the head.
"Heading" or hitting the ball with the head is the riskiest
activity. When done repeatedly, it can cause concussion. The
risk is greater if a small child uses too large a ball.
Girls are
injured playing soccer more often than boys.
Articles
Click here
to read an article from the American Academy of Pediatrics about injuries in
youth soccer.
Soccer dads head up efforts for safer play
from the June 1, 2000 issue of USAToday
A Perplexing
Foe Takes an Awful Toll in-set article on 'Heading' from the New York Times May 11, 2000
