Let's just be bad for ever!

[beasleyisbeastly]

So there is a new rule now that forbids the intentional use of the head to play the ball (no heading) for u11 and under. I know the BRSC middle school league is also doing this. I get that everyone wants to avoid any possible concussions as much as possible, but is this really necessary?  I've played this game as long as I can remember and I don't remember a single time I witnessed someone get a concussion from heading the ball. In fact, any time I've ever heard someone complain that heading the ball hurt their head, it was because they didn't have proper technique and they used the top of their head as apposed to the crown or forehead. This rule is a lose-lose. The players lose and extremely valuable skill, and they aren't taught proper technique to protect themselves in the future. How do we expect to progress as a country if our kids can't head the ball? This rule is an extreme overreaction. If they really want to avoid any possible head injuries then why don't they just ban goal keepers? Remember the last player who got a concussion from heading the ball? nope. Remember the last goal keeper who dove into the post? Ah yes, Petr Cech. hmmm... who else? nope that's it. I really feel for the generation that won't learn how to head the ball until they are 12. They had so much potential to lead the US into being a top contender. But we just had to make sure they'd continue our country's streak of mediocrity. The rest of the world is laughing at us even more now.
To add to it, I have witnessed players now sticking their feet near opponents heads in order to play the ball. How is that any better!?
This rule is a pathetic attempt for USSF to prove it cares about safety. Next thing you know we will all be wearing football helmets and pads. 

[Deleted]

Apparently it was what US Soccer had to do as a part of a lawsuit.

[Deleted]

Speaking of BRSC Middle School Soccer League going in now...are scores available online somewhere?

[jcstewart]

I have also witnessed many more feet near heads and faces because of this rule. If the rulemakers don't want 10 & 11 year olds heading the ball off punts, fine (even though I rarely ever saw that in this age group anyway), but please allow them to head the ball after it has bounced. That's when feet approach faces most.

[laffysoccermom]

Concussions I have seen- my daughter as a keeper. Foot to side of head while she was on ground on top of ball.

3-4 others. Head to ground when tripped, pushed, or clumsy. It seems to me the ground is way more dangerous than the ball.

[smee]

Absolute Bunkum. I have already seen improvements in the skillsets of many players. For example, players take a step back, and chest the ball down to team mates, or to themselves. I have also seen many more players taking the ball on the drop and controlling, or attempting to control volleys.

There is no reason for feet to be raised high at that age group. Why are the coaches not taking any responsibility for teaching their players how to play proper soccer? Why is this suddenly the fault of LSA / USSF? Watch some videos of European youth teams playing: the ball is rarely above waist height. With Futsal finally arriving in LA in 2017, we might even see players here passing the ball on the ground to someone in the same color of shirt.

The vast majority of head injuries have occurred when two heads collide, normally when two players are trying to head the ball. Removing heading the ball will eliminate this type of traumatic brain injury (TBI): I am not sure how that is a bad thing. TBIs are known to have cumulative effects on long-term cognitive decline, including PTSD, and depression. But, then again, preventing kids whose heads are still growing and developing from heading the ball incorrectly is ruining the game for everyone.

As for foot to side of head on goalkeeper, depending on the timing of it, it can be a normal part of game (I happened to see a goalkeeper get hurt in this manned at the weekend). Or, it can be serious foul play (at older age groups). Or it can be the result of, wait for it, over ambitious coaches, and, yes, parents, screaming at kids to slide in for a ball that they have neither the skill nor dexterity to attempt. You know, it is funny: in all my years around soccer fields, I have rarely seen teams practicing sliding in on the goalkeeper......

[laffysoccermom]

The head to the side of the head of the keeper was serious foul play. It was also the result of a ref who lost complete control of the game. He was an out of state ref and I was told by the tournament director that he was going to file paperwork with his state association to have him evaluated. All that's off the subject...

I didn't think about two heads hitting. I've never seen a concussion occur like that but I have very limited experience. I can see that as a genuine concern and probably what the rule was meant to avoid rather than the ball causing it.

[smee]

I have never seen a referee committing serious foul play: only players. Coaches of youth players have a moral and legal obligation to keep their players under control at all times. Please don't blame the actions of players and coaches on someone giving their valuable spare time to permit games to take place.

[Deleted]

To be clear, they are compensated for this valuable spare time right?

[smee]

Compensation? Yes. It averages about $7.50 per hour for youth games at this level ($20/game for middle, $10/game per AR, games are generally scheduled at 2 hour increments). Thanks to OSI changing the tops, again, my back of a bookies line calculation, has it taking the best part of four months to pay for (four games per weekend, $500 for new uniforms). That does not include shorts, socks, or shoes. And, of course, laundry is free.

I think Walmart pays more, and , I believe security at Walmart will use a Tazer on you when you are aggressively abusive to the staff. And, Walmart provides the uniform

[cajunfit]

Not to poo-poo on the original poster, but it just so happens that we have a girl player (Senior) who sustained a concussion in a game last week and the only thing she did was have quite a few headers, including one very powerful header (goal) off a fast line-drive corner kick. Proof of the concussion? No, but there were no other physical contact scenarios in the game that would have led to that concussion.

I do believe there are plenty of examples where you can sustain concussions from heading soccer balls, probably due to accumulation during a game though. I am still undecided on if this rule change will help a lot, but at the very young ages, it seems fine.

[laffysoccermom]

Dec 5, 2016 20:47:37 GMT -6 smee said:

I have never seen a referee committing serious foul play: only players. Coaches of youth players have a moral and legal obligation to keep their players under control at all times. Please don't blame the actions of players and coaches on someone giving their valuable spare time to permit games to take place.

The ref didn't commit the foul and was not the only one at fault. I agree that coaches have that obligation but the ref shares in it. By not calling obvious fouls and allowing retaliation, a ref is contributing to a dangerous environment. This was not just a "let them play" attitude.

Also my daughter could have been hurt anyway. It has happened.

I was told by the tournament director that he heard from both coaches, and both ARs saying the ref lost control and created a dangerous environment. He said one of the ARs said they regretted not stopping game. The tournament director did not allow him to ref any more games and was reporting him for possible evaluation and/or retraining to his state association.

I appreciate the job refs do but on this day the game would have been better served if this ref had done something else with his valuable time. This is the only instance in all the games I've seen that I can truly say this.

[beasleyisbeastly]

Dec 5, 2016 15:54:19 GMT -6 smee said:

Absolute Bunkum. I have already seen improvements in the skillsets of many players. For example, players take a step back, and chest the ball down to team mates, or to themselves. I have also seen many more players taking the ball on the drop and controlling, or attempting to control volleys.

There is no reason for feet to be raised high at that age group. Why are the coaches not taking any responsibility for teaching their players how to play proper soccer? Why is this suddenly the fault of LSA / USSF? Watch some videos of European youth teams playing: the ball is rarely above waist height. With Futsal finally arriving in LA in 2017, we might even see players here passing the ball on the ground to someone in the same color of shirt.

The vast majority of head injuries have occurred when two heads collide, normally when two players are trying to head the ball. Removing heading the ball will eliminate this type of traumatic brain injury (TBI): I am not sure how that is a bad thing. TBIs are known to have cumulative effects on long-term cognitive decline, including PTSD, and depression. But, then again, preventing kids whose heads are still growing and developing from heading the ball incorrectly is ruining the game for everyone.

As for foot to side of head on goalkeeper, depending on the timing of it, it can be a normal part of game (I happened to see a goalkeeper get hurt in this manned at the weekend). Or, it can be serious foul play (at older age groups). Or it can be the result of, wait for it, over ambitious coaches, and, yes, parents, screaming at kids to slide in for a ball that they have neither the skill nor dexterity to attempt. You know, it is funny: in all my years around soccer fields, I have rarely seen teams practicing sliding in on the goalkeeper..

What does bunkum mean?

Anyhow I do agree about what you said about the ball being in the air in the first place. I still have to explain to people why keeping the ball on the ground is important.
Can you elaborate on futsal coming to la in 2017? Will there be a futsal league?

[smee]

this is the info I saw about futsal in LA: To all, LSA has just approved affiliation of LSA clubs and the playing of Futsal. Futsal will become a sanctioned part of LSA play. As such, it is important for all to know that in order to referee Futsal, referees who choose to do these games will need to obtain a grade 8 USSF Futsal badge/certification. The State Referee Committee is in the midst of planning these courses in locations where we already expect to see this game start. As such, we plan on rolling out Grade 8 Futsal courses, likely in early summer 2017 in order to be ready for the start up in fall of 17. At this point, there are no courses or information available other than this notice. We simply want people to know that more information will be forthcoming in the next 6 months or so as we prepare to take on another challenge. Personally I have very high expectations that these new games may spur a growth in bringing new referees into the program and potentially getting these to "cross over" to the outdoor game as well. Stay tuned, but I see this as a ne and exciting time for us in 2017.

[wildcatsoccer]

so after my first weekend of MS soccer with the new rule about no heading I was very surprised at how strict it was called. If the ball bounced head high and it was hit they stopped play. hard for 8th graders to all of the sudden change the way they have played for years. I saw a couple of times when defending corner kicks they would jump up to chest the ball as good as they could. Will be fun to watch

[Rabid Monkey]

Dec 12, 2016 9:27:11 GMT -6 wildcatsoccer said:

so after my first weekend of MS soccer with the new rule about no heading I was very surprised at how strict it was called. If the ball bounced head high and it was hit they stopped play. hard for 8th graders to all of the sudden change the way they have played for years. I saw a couple of times when defending corner kicks they would jump up to chest the ball as good as they could. Will be fun to watch

I thought the rule was for U11 and under? 

[wildcatsoccer]

for the league with BRSC they had to include the entire league as there may be U12 players in each division.