Rule Change in Youth Soccer Reduces Concussion Risk, Study Finds

A simple policy change in youth soccer has significantly reduced concussion risk, according to a new study set to be presented at the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons meeting in San Diego.

Researchers found that banning or limiting headers—where players use their heads to strike the ball—led to nearly a 26% decrease in soccer-related concussions treated in emergency rooms.

"Although not all concussions result from headers, a measurable percentage still do, and it is encouraging to observe a trend indicating a decline in concussion rates," said Dr. Anikar Chhabra, director of sports medicine at Mayo Clinic Arizona.

With approximately 3.9 million children playing organized soccer annually in the U.S., the sport remains one of the most popular among young athletes.

Due to growing concerns about head injuries, the U.S. Soccer Federation implemented a rule change in 2016, banning headers for players younger than 10 years old and restricting practice time for those aged 11 to 13 to a maximum of 30 minutes per week.

"We wanted to assess the impact of this policy on our patients," said Dr. Eugenia Lin, an orthopedic surgery resident at Mayo Clinic Arizona. "While policies are important, we don't always have the data to determine the effectiveness."

Using data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System, researchers compared soccer-related concussion rates before and after the rule change.

Between 2012 and 2015, concussions accounted for more than 8% of soccer-related emergency room visits. After the rule change, that number dropped to 6% between 2016 and 2023.

"While we cannot attribute this reduction solely to policy changes, these data suggest that these regulations may positively impact different age groups and time periods," Chhabra explained.

The study also highlighted gender differences in concussion risk. While boys had more total soccer-related injuries than girls (38,000 vs. 21,000 from 2012–2023), concussions made up a larger percentage of injuries among girls. In 2012, concussions accounted for 11% of injuries in girls and 8% in boys. By 2023, these rates dropped to 8% for girls and 4% for boys.

"Now that physicians, Athletic Trainers, coaches, and parents understand the long-term implications of concussions, it is crucial to continue refining and reinforcing evidence-based policies that prioritize player safety and injury prevention," Chhabra emphasized.

As with all preliminary findings, researchers caution that these results should be confirmed through peer-reviewed studies before drawing definitive conclusions.

However, the study suggests that continued efforts to modify youth sports policies could further reduce concussion risks among young athletes. Read about the study here!