Mandatory Headgear?

[BC supporter]

Read this item at USA Today (Michael Hiestand, Sports Business, Oct. 6):

HEADERS

Hockey players didn't always wear helmets. Baseball players didn't wear batting helmets. And here's another tradition that seems ready to give way to safety concerns: playing soccer bareheaded.

Today, the New York State West Soccer Association, overseeing about 80,000 youth players in western New York, is expected to announce that headgear will be mandatory next spring for players under 14 — 35,000 kids will be required to cover their foreheads to get into games.

Omer Doron, association executive director, says he's not aware of any soccer body making headgear mandatory "and we're happy to be the first."

FIFA, soccer's top governing body, has specified only that acceptable headgear not include hard surfaces, sharp edges or loose straps.

Obviously, the U.S. market is potentially huge: About 12.4 million kids 6-17 play soccer, and the sport trails only basketball in popularity.

One company, Full90, claims it has the market cornered — at least for now. Jeff Skeen, who founded the San Diego-based private company last year, says it's sold 100,000 models and had 11 players use the gear in Olympic soccer in Athens and four players use it in Major League Soccer.

But he concedes soccer associations, such as NYSWSA, will face resistance: "Imagine the fight they'll get from traditionalists."

NYSWSA's Doron says the use of headgear by elite players will change things: "That's living proof that headgear doesn't change the game."

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/colum...hiestand_x.htm

[Daniel]

Well, what do you expect, Western New York needs to find new ways to keep its "WienerKings" crown .

I played a tournament in Rochester and the fields were fine, except the nets were about a foot short... WTF?

[beachesl]

I'm a football traditionalist, but I have no problems with this development. It just makes sense.

However, having said that, I note that FIFA's first findings in 2002 (the research is ongoing) indicate that head injuries have not been proven to be a major consequence so far:

http://www.fifa.com/en/development/m...rticleid=37558

[The Ref]

I have no problem with the Full90s. What I would like to see more of from referees is a clamping down on elbows to the head, that is where the problem is.

[The Ref]

I have no problem with the Full90s. What I would like to see more of from referees is a clamping down on elbows to the head, that is where the problem is.

[beachesl]

You are right there Ref. I have always said that most of the answers to problems can be found in present means being used properly.

[DoyleG]

My worry is that players might become more aggressive if headgear is mandatory.

[Cheeta]

quote:Originally posted by The Ref

I have no problem with the Full90s. What I would like to see more of from referees is a clamping down on elbows to the head, that is where the problem is.

You nailed it right on the head there [xx(]

Sorry. Had to. Couldn't help myself.

Yes. The infamous flying elbow to the side o' the noggin. Or neck. Or upper back. Deadly stuff those mid-air collisions and it always seems the fellow with the "right of way" ends up paying the price. Don't even win the foul for your efforts. Just whiplash.

[Canadienfan]

quote:Originally posted by DoyleG

My worry is that players might become more aggressive if headgear is mandatory.

Agreed!

[shaku_bert]

I thought the problem was solved with new technologies making balls. The old balls weighed about 40 pounds so it was inevitable that smacking your head against the ball would cause some damage.