outside!
DA
I hope I am wrong, but it would not surprise me if center mids that head those long balls several times per game will end up with CTE like symptoms.
Concussions and who is looking out for the kid.
- Thread starter socalkdg
- Start date
dk_b
GOLD
My guess . . . it's never been considered. I remember that women's hoops was changed by going to a smaller ball (I think that happened when I was in HS). I do not remember any controversy over that but the small ball was definitely better for the game.
dk_b
GOLD
There have been reports - though more anecdotal than a study - of former European pros who show signs of CTE
dk_b
GOLD
Thank you for showing me guess to be WRONG.
outside!
DA
There are a lot of smart people in the world. Of course there is a corollary to that.
Among myself and my two soccer-playing sons, we have accrued at least one head-to-ground, at least one head-to-head, and at least one free-kick-to-head concussions.
dk_b
GOLD
Ok . . . between friends. My favorite part of any online commenting is learning MORE about any topic, whether important or mundane. I change my opinions when I learn more or, as in this case, I gain knowledge of a topic that is important to me and having more knowledge is always better than having less. I don't mind disagreements b/c I don't think disagreeing with me is a character flaw and if I can't explain my position, then maybe I should shed it (it is why I never "thumb down" or mark as "dumb" any response - if I don't like or disagree w/a comment, I should say something or be silent and not hide behind an emoji. My hope is that others do the same (I know that is not the case)).
So my post thanking you, @outside!, is totally sincere. I am thankful to know about this ball and, after reading the article (and seeing it is from 2014), I wonder if the Danes has published any findings (concussion rates, for example (I had never thought about the knee injury risk))
If you are in a program that is serious about concussion protocol, then you would have had a pre-season cognitive evaluation by which to judge changes and recovery from injury. One adverse side-effect of that, however, is that if they find out you are already stupid, concussions won't hurt you at all.
outside!
DA
Sorry, I meant to convey that you had a good idea, but since there are so many smart people in the world, someone else has also thought of it. I was not trying to be condescending. The limitations of text and emojis sometimes make it difficult to communicate the actual intent. My apologies.
dk_b
GOLD
No apologies necessary and I did not take it as condescending at all. Cheers!
Germane to the discussion -- the terminal velocity of a soccer ball in sea level air is estimated to be about 50 km/h (30 mph), well below the speed a strong kicker can put on the ball. A hard-kicked ball will be slowing down, and high-kicked balls all come down at about the same speed.
https://www.quora.com/Could-a-soccer-ball-ever-reach-terminal-velocity-in-a-soccer-match
https://www.quora.com/Could-a-soccer-ball-ever-reach-terminal-velocity-in-a-soccer-match
dk_b
GOLD
How variable is the point at which a ball kicked in an arc will start slowing down? No, not slowing down (since that starts immediately after the kick since it cannot gain speed) but reach the terminal velocity? Is it necessarily at terminal velocity when it starts its downward arc (is that, by definition, a given?) or can it be above terminal velocity throughout the kick (the longer that it, the less likely, I'd expect)? I am intrigued by this but am neither a physicist nor engineer.
Along with the concern about straight up concussions, I've also wondered about the subconcussive "effects" of repeatedly heading the ball for quite some time. I cringe every time I see a player heading a ball that has any kind of pace on it. I've told my kid to avoid heading the ball as much as possible. And I know this will upset at least some fans/purists, but I would not be unhappy at all if heading was significantly limited, or eliminated all together from the game (though I'm sure this will never happen).
How cool would it be if they allowed volleyball style spikes? Only inside the 18. Only the attacking player can swing. Defending player can only go straight up to block.
oh canada
GOLD
Here is the one good independent study that's been done on the various headgear pieces -- VA Tech. Head gear seems to make the most sense for goalies, but my kids don't play keeper so I won't tread into an area where others have much more experience. US Soccer could mandate all players to wear headgear--remember the helmetless days in hockey?--but then that would be admitting that there is currently a safety risk.
ttps://www.helmet.beam.vt.edu/soccer-headgear-ratings.html
ttps://www.helmet.beam.vt.edu/soccer-headgear-ratings.html
dk_b
GOLD
I sent that link to the team doctor for one Pac12 women’s soccer program and to another Dr who is a leading sports med dr in the country. I had always heard that these don’t really help w/r/t concussion but that do help with skull fracture. But Va Tech makes claims about reducing concussion risk so maybe I’m mistaken or they have improved. If I get any response that is relevant to this group, I will share it.
Well, I am. The velocity of any object in motion is a vector sum of the horizontal and vertical motions. Due to air resistance, the horizontal component of the motion will be slowing the whole time it is in motion unless there is a wind blowing faster than the ball is moving. The vertical motion will be zero at the top of its climb and will accelerate downward by gravity as it falls, but that acceleration will be countered by the air resistance also. In my experience, the only interval when a kicked ball is dangerous is within a few yards of a hard kick before the air has slowed it down much.
Another factor to consider is that long kicks give a player a longer time to get in a proper position. That also makes standing in the 10-yard wall in front of a free kick to be a greater risk.
dk_b
GOLD
Thank you. And damn I wish I could buy you a beverage of your choice right now. So many questions ...
coachrefparent
GOLD
Concussions are primarily caused by the brain rattling and banging against the skull (or more severely, twisting.) The skull at the forehead is a very solid structure that protects the brain. Apart from such forceful blows where there is damage and incursion of the skull into the brian, issues arise when quick movement of the head causes the brain to essentially crash into the inside of the skull. This often occurs when the head is whiplashed into the ground, or a ball impacts the head and it bounces backward and forward. The brain then impacts the back and front of the inside of the skull forcefully, causing damage.
A player that heads INTO the ball (which is the only proper heading technique), as opposed to allowing the ball to hit the head, does not allow the brain to bounce around inside the skull. As the player forces the head toward the ball, the brain will press forward but not forcefully, and as the forehead impacts the ball in a forward motion, the brain is not affected by the impact as it has already moved against the front of the skull. The forehead does its job to protect the brain. As the player continues the forward movement as the ball sails off, there is no violent recoil of the brain within the skull.
Most kids are so scared of the impact due to poor training, that they are afraid to head into the ball in the same way they will kick a ball. They lock up, and allow the ball to hit their head (like a baseball player bunting), and this leads to a big headache as their brain first hits the front of their skull, then recoils into the back of it.
A player that heads INTO the ball (which is the only proper heading technique), as opposed to allowing the ball to hit the head, does not allow the brain to bounce around inside the skull. As the player forces the head toward the ball, the brain will press forward but not forcefully, and as the forehead impacts the ball in a forward motion, the brain is not affected by the impact as it has already moved against the front of the skull. The forehead does its job to protect the brain. As the player continues the forward movement as the ball sails off, there is no violent recoil of the brain within the skull.
Most kids are so scared of the impact due to poor training, that they are afraid to head into the ball in the same way they will kick a ball. They lock up, and allow the ball to hit their head (like a baseball player bunting), and this leads to a big headache as their brain first hits the front of their skull, then recoils into the back of it.