I spent the weekend in Kansas City for the NSCAA, the annual meeting of soccer coaches. This year there was a couple of themes, get organized (the german influence of Klinnsman), individual development and it's importance over a 11 month span (building energy systems and efficient athletes), and the concussion problem. Most sobering was Taylor Twellman's personal story of how concussions put a halt to his career. He has started a foundation to grow knowledge and reaserch on concussions ThinkTaylor.org.
Nicole LaVoi, Associate director, Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sports at the University of Minnesota, youth sport, recently wrote on how the problem affects women more than men. She is right on, as a long time coach in Girls High School Soccer, I have seen the problem first hand.
Soccer balls weigh 1.2 - 1.5 pounds, often travelling at 30-50 miles per hour, as a player, the impact on the head is noticable. In the old days taking a wet, soggy leather ball out of the air could make your head ring. From my position on the sidelines of youth soccer, I have seen very few kids, boys or girls, who head the ball correctly and safely.
My feeling is that most kids, even in High School, have poor technique and inadequate musclular strength to safely head a size five ball.
At my center, Joy of the People, we encourage skillful play on the ground. We use futsals and Futebols which have little bounce and keep the game on the ground. When teaching heading, we NEVER train or play with a regular soccer ball. We use safe nerf, plastic, or volley balls to provide kids a chance to practice technique safely.
Since most concussion problems in soccer involve heading, both in technique and clashes, here are some simple ideas to make the game safer, better and more fun:
1) Encourage play on the ground. This is a beautiful game when it's played with skill and on the ground. Playing small sided games with futsals and even tennis balls will keep the game skillful and on the ground.
2) Teach how to bring a ball down. Before we teach heading we should teach kids how to bring the ball under control using the inside of the foot, the chest, the thigh, and get the ball on the ground, that's when the fun starts.
3) Teach proper technique along with movement. At JOTP we use a couple Brazilian strategies to keep heading technique safe and fun, First, we use light rubber brazilian skill balls, recognizing that lots of technique work is just not possible with a size five ball (we also use nerf, play and plastic balls). And two, we incorporate a learning tool called improvisacao (or, improvisation) movement training to prepare the kids for unexpected falls, changes of direction, and interaction with opponents, this teaches balance, safety and healthy movement at the same time as learning proper heading technique.
4) Teach safe technique. Much of the dangerous plays derive from head to head clashes. As we teach technique it's important to teach how to be aware, assess the situation and how to go up for a head ball safely.
5) Encourage skillful play over out of control aggressive play. Charging forward to dominated air balls will create more 50 / 50 balls and a viscous cycle of "loose balls" (think american football with constant fumbles) thus encouraging more aggressive play. A simple move to bring the ball down is a higher level of skill and much more safe.
Soccer is a beautiful game, it is a skillful and fun game that can often, in competitive situations, become fast and physical. Heading and other skills are part of the game, and when the body is strong enough, and the technique is correct, heading is safe and exciting. By preparing kids slowly and progressively, and teaching them the importance of skillful and safe play, we can make sure all our kids are having fun and growing in the game.
TK
Nicole LaVoi, Associate director, Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sports at the University of Minnesota, youth sport, recently wrote on how the problem affects women more than men. She is right on, as a long time coach in Girls High School Soccer, I have seen the problem first hand.
My feeling is that most kids, even in High School, have poor technique and inadequate musclular strength to safely head a size five ball.
At my center, Joy of the People, we encourage skillful play on the ground. We use futsals and Futebols which have little bounce and keep the game on the ground. When teaching heading, we NEVER train or play with a regular soccer ball. We use safe nerf, plastic, or volley balls to provide kids a chance to practice technique safely.
Since most concussion problems in soccer involve heading, both in technique and clashes, here are some simple ideas to make the game safer, better and more fun:
1) Encourage play on the ground. This is a beautiful game when it's played with skill and on the ground. Playing small sided games with futsals and even tennis balls will keep the game skillful and on the ground.
2) Teach how to bring a ball down. Before we teach heading we should teach kids how to bring the ball under control using the inside of the foot, the chest, the thigh, and get the ball on the ground, that's when the fun starts.
3) Teach proper technique along with movement. At JOTP we use a couple Brazilian strategies to keep heading technique safe and fun, First, we use light rubber brazilian skill balls, recognizing that lots of technique work is just not possible with a size five ball (we also use nerf, play and plastic balls). And two, we incorporate a learning tool called improvisacao (or, improvisation) movement training to prepare the kids for unexpected falls, changes of direction, and interaction with opponents, this teaches balance, safety and healthy movement at the same time as learning proper heading technique.
4) Teach safe technique. Much of the dangerous plays derive from head to head clashes. As we teach technique it's important to teach how to be aware, assess the situation and how to go up for a head ball safely.
5) Encourage skillful play over out of control aggressive play. Charging forward to dominated air balls will create more 50 / 50 balls and a viscous cycle of "loose balls" (think american football with constant fumbles) thus encouraging more aggressive play. A simple move to bring the ball down is a higher level of skill and much more safe.
Soccer is a beautiful game, it is a skillful and fun game that can often, in competitive situations, become fast and physical. Heading and other skills are part of the game, and when the body is strong enough, and the technique is correct, heading is safe and exciting. By preparing kids slowly and progressively, and teaching them the importance of skillful and safe play, we can make sure all our kids are having fun and growing in the game.
TK
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