Smart Thinking – Protecting The Head
US Club Soccer makes protective headgear more accessible to members through a new partnership with Storelli
The controversy over protective headgear in the world of youth soccer has reigned for more than a decade, leaving many people often confused.
Can headgear protect adequately? Does wearing headgear make players more aggressive and therefore increasing the risks of injury? Is any form of protective barrier better than none? What technological advances offer superior protection?
In the past few years, parents and coaches have become increasingly aware of the potential health risks for youth soccer players at all levels.
Gone are the days when an obviously dizzy player was encouraged to be ‘tough’ and get back on the field and help the team win.
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The bottom line: As in any other contact sport, head injuries will occur in soccer and we want to minimize the potential risks resulting from concussions.
The Threat of concussion is a massive issue.
In the light of the increase in documented concussions suffered by youth players playing the beautiful game along with proof of how serious traumatic brain injuries can be, there is a new rise in the interest for solutions against head injuries.
Could soccer headgear reduce concussion risk? First-ever ratings say yes.
The Virginia Tech Helmet Lab has just released the first safety ratings for soccer headgear. Their results suggest that even lightweight headbands like the one at left can reduce a player’s head-injury risk substantially.
The lab’s rating system grades safety equipment on a five-star scale, giving consumers a straightforward way to discriminate between different models on the basis of how well they reduce head-injury risk.
According to the report, soccer players still have one of the highest head injury rates in sports: one study indicated that more than 60 percent of soccer players reported concussion symptoms annually. Concussion rates for girls’ soccer rival those in boys’ football.
Here is the latest from US Club Socer:
US Club Soccer‘s commitment to fostering a safe, Players First environment, US Club Soccer and Storelli have announced a multi-year partnership that makes the Storelli ExoShield Head Guard the “Official Head Gear of US Club Soccer.”
While head protection is still relatively new to soccer, concerns about head injuries in soccer are mounting and most players, parents, and coaches are unaware of potential solutions. New studies, including a recent one by Virginia Tech’s Helmet Lab, indicate that headgear can materially reduce the risk of head injuries in soccer.
This is a major milestone that Storelli expects to be echoed by ongoing clinical studies. The Storelli ExoShield Head Guard is the highest-rated product in the market, with an estimated 84 percent reduction in head injuries, according to Virginia Tech.
The goal of the partnership is to educate US Club Soccer members about head injuries and potential solutions, including headgear.
“We’re proud to welcome Storelli to the US Club Soccer family and look forward to adding value to our members through this partnership,” US Club Soccer CEO Kevin Payne said.
“Storelli is the leader in protecting soccer players from head injury, and its commitment to safety is echoed by US Club Soccer. Since our players deserve the best, Storelli is a natural partner for us.”
“Storelli is thrilled to partner with US Club Soccer and support its mission of developing soccer clubs across the nation and promoting safety in the sport,” Storelli’s CEO Claudio Storelli said. “We strongly believe that the first step towards decreasing head injuries is educating players, parents, and coaches on causes and potential solutions, and this partnership is a move in that direction.”
US Club Soccer’s focus on Player Health & Safety is admirable and sets the standard for a brighter future for the youth game in the USA.
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