Head & Brain Injury

Dear KSYSA Members,

This communication is intended to better assist our teams, clubs, and leagues in understanding & implementing changes, as mandated by US Soccer, as efficiently & effectively as possible.

CONCUSSION

As part of U.S. Soccer’s Player Safety Campaign, U.S. Soccer unveiled the U.S. Soccer Concussion Initiative that provides guidelines that have been implemented since January of 2016.

The information contained in the initiative is intended to give U.S. Soccer Organization Members, as well as players, parents, team/club staff and coaches and referees, guidance and direction when dealing with head injuries and potential head injuries during soccer participation.

Included in the U.S. Soccer Concussion Initiative are specific changes to rules on substitutions and heading for certain age groups. Those changes included: 

• Modify substitution rules to allow players who may have suffered a concussion during games to be evaluated without penalty
• Eliminating heading for children 10 and under 
• Please note that 11U is listed in the U.S. Soccer Concussion Initiative document because 11U players can be 10 years old at the beginning of the season
• Limiting the amount of heading in practice for children between the ages of 11 and 13

In addition to the safety initiatives, the following modified rule should be implemented:

When a player deliberately heads the ball in a game, an indirect free kick (IFK) should be awarded to the opposing team from the spot of the offense.  If the deliberate header occurs within the penalty area, the indirect free kick should be taken on the penalty area line parallel to the goal line at the point nearest to where the infringement occurred. If a player does not deliberately head the ball, then play should continue.

To download the full PDF that includes all player initiatives CLICK HERE.

Should you have questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact the KSYSA State Office.