At the recent annual American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons meeting, a new research study showed the United States Soccer Federation’s policy restricting heading in youth soccer has contributed to a decline in concussion rates. Implemented in 2016, the policy banned heading for players under 10 years old and limits it in practice for those aged 11 to 13 for 30 minutes per week. The study shares the exciting finding that the rule change has worked to enhance the safety of kids.
The study ‘Pediatric Concussion Injuries in Soccer: Emergency Department Trends in the United States from 2012 to 2023’, provides an analysis of data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS). The Mayo Clinic based research team, including Dr. Anikar Chabra and Dr. Alex Hoffer, identified a 25.6% risk reduction in soccer-related concussions as a percentage of all soccer-related injuries presenting to the emergency department between 2020 to 2023 compared to 2012 to 2015. Additionally, the team found that the proportion of concussions in relation to other injuries decreased to 6%, noting a relative risk reduction between time periods.
The study was impressive in the sheer size of the database studied. A total of 23,275 soccer-related injuries were reported in players 10- to 13-years-old, of which 1,527 were concussions (6.6%). A total of 26,907 soccer-related injuries were reported in players 14- to 17-years-old, of which 2,397 were concussions (8.9%).
Interestingly, the proportion of concussion diagnoses for both male and female players was lowest in 2023 – the final year of data analyzed – at 4.3% and 7.8%, respectively. The highest annual proportion of concussion diagnoses was 8.4% for male players and 10.5% for female players, both in 2012. The policy implemented in 2016 is credited with the decrease.
Why This Matters for Youth Athletes
Soccer remains one of the most popular sports for children and adolescents, but it also carries a significant risk of head injuries. Research has shown that repeated head impacts, even those not severe enough to cause immediate symptoms, may have long-term neurological consequences. By limiting exposure to these impacts at a young age, policies like the U.S. Soccer Federation’s header restriction aim to reduce the cumulative risk of brain injury over time. The success of the header restriction policy offers a model for other rule changes designed to protect young athletes. As research continues to explore the effects of head impacts in sports, organizations may consider additional safeguards, such as improved coaching techniques, better protective equipment, and stricter enforcement of safety guidelines.