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Soccer, A Beautiful, But Surprisingly Dangerous Game For Our Children

Soccer is the most commonly played sport in the world. It would surprise many people that soccer is also one of the most dangerous sports especially for females and younger children.

Soccer is dangerous because the rules permit a player to use their head to play the ball. Heading the ball properly from time to time will not necessarily result in a concussion or produce concussion-related symptoms. However, doctors warn that repeated blows from heading the ball, even properly, may soften the brain over time leading to injury.

In August 2014 a group of U.S. soccer players and their parents filed a class action lawsuit alleging that soccer’s international governing body and its U.S. counterparts were negligent in treating and monitoring head injuries. The lawsuit sought rule changes as opposed to any financial damages. The lawsuit proceeded against the U.S. Soccer Federation until early November 2015 when new guidelines were established setting strict limits on youth players. These guidelines will limit the amount of headers a child under 13 can make in practice. These guidelines will prohibit children under 10 from heading the ball at all.

Canada is behind the U.S. in developing guidelines and accompanying concussion protocols for soccer and other sports where the risk of concussion is high. If you, or someone you know, has suffered an injury due to a lack of appropriate guidelines, or a failure to properly implement guidelines, the personal injury lawyers at Oatley Vigmond can help.