Soccer for dummies: heading may not be so smart


BACK Soccer Guide Feature Article Soccer for dummies: heading may not be so smart Author: Psychology Today Red alert to the suburbs: Soccer may be great for developing sinewy legs and good coordination, but all that head-butting might not be so good for your brain. A recent study found that soccer players who frequently "head" the ball score lower on a set of neurocognitive tests than players who don't rely on their noggins so much. Frank Webbe, a professor of psychology at Florida Tech, also found that those ballplayers who headed the ball most often--and had played within the past seven days--suffered the most cognitive deficits. Webbe is not ready to claim that kiddie soccer champs will do worse in school: "We haven't adequately established the relationship between neurocognitive tests and typical school exams," he says. But some other research has shown that soccer players may fare worse than other athletes on these tests. Soccer organizations disagree, pointing to a scientific review of more than 50 studies that found no direct links between ball-heading and brain injury. "More often than not, injuries are from head-to-head contact," says Craig Bohnert, spokesperson for the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. Webbe says that proper technique reduces the subconcussive damage that probably causes the cognitive troubles: "You should hit the ball at the fringe of the hairline, and the neck and shoulder muscles should be braced to pivot the head." That way, he says, you hit the ball rather than letting the ball hit you. Another solution: Hang up your cleats, and take up croquet. ... Back To Article Overview

Soccer Guide Feature Article

Soccer for dummies: heading may not be so smart
Author: Psychology Today

Red alert to the suburbs: Soccer may be great for developing sinewy legs and good coordination, but all that head-butting might not be so good for your brain. A recent study found that soccer players who frequently "head" the ball score lower on a set of neurocognitive tests than players who don't rely on their noggins so much.

Frank Webbe, a professor of psychology at Florida Tech, also found that those ballplayers who headed the ball most often--and had played within the past seven days--suffered the most cognitive deficits.

Webbe is not ready to claim that kiddie soccer champs will do worse in school: "We haven't adequately established the relationship between neurocognitive tests and typical school exams," he says. But some other research has shown that soccer players may fare worse than other athletes on these tests.

Soccer organizations disagree, pointing to a scientific review of more than 50 studies that found no direct links between ball-heading and brain injury. "More often than not, injuries are from head-to-head contact," says Craig Bohnert, spokesperson for the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.

Webbe says that proper technique reduces the subconcussive damage that probably causes the cognitive troubles: "You should hit the ball at the fringe of the hairline, and the neck and shoulder muscles should be braced to pivot the head." That way, he says, you hit the ball rather than letting the ball hit you. Another solution: Hang up your cleats, and take up croquet.

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