Almost a month after a landmark court ruling required the US Soccer Federation to initiate standard protocols to follow when a player is deemed to have suffered a concussion; the USSF launched a wide-ranging player health and safety program designed to prevent and reduce injuries in soccer players of all ages. In a statement regarding the program, US Soccer acknowledged that it has been developing the player safety campaign long before the lawsuit was filed and settled.
The USSF followed up on its pledge to create a truly consensus based program. It sought out the help of medical experts to develop Recognize to Recover, and will be recruiting former and current players to spread the message about the necessity of player health and safety.
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Recognize to Recover will primarily focus on concussions and head injuries, as well as heat related illness. According to USSF Chief Medical Officer George Chiampas, the program will “lead to better awareness and understanding of player health and safety initiatives and strengthen the role parents, players, coaches and officials play in preventing, protecting and addressing injuries.” However, the program will also expand to cover other areas of focus in the beginning of 2016.
Although the medicine and the science around head related injuries is still developing, Chiampas believes that there is enough information to warrant this initiative by the USSF: “We know the vast majority of concussions occur when there is contact between players trying to head the ball, “ explained Chiampas. “Whether that is head-to-head contact, elbow-to-head or their hitting the ground while challenging for the ball in the air, by reducing the number of those aerial challenges to head the ball, we believe we will decrease the incidence of concussions.”
Overall, the program’s main objectives are to reduce injuries and promote safe play on and off the field. The program provides guidance, information, as well as education materials to advance the prevention, management and reduction of injuries.
Furthermore, the program will encompass all levels of US Soccer. The US Soccer’s Recognize to Recover Concussion Initiative provides detailed information as to how the new rules will apply for each age group. For example, the USSF will require the presence of qualified medical professionals at all games involving youth national teams. National Team players will also have to undergo pre-injury baseline testing with comprehensive post injury follow up evaluations and return to play protocols.
The USSF is to be commended for placing the health of their players above all else. Chief Medical Officer Chiampas elaborated on that point in his statement: “ We feel that by elevating player health and safety above the game, and bringing all of our health and safety efforts into this one, powerful program, we will be a leader in this area.” The program will also enable USSF to gain a “deeper understanding of player health and safety”.
However, it remains to be seen how this program will impact the quality of the game and what effect it will have on the skills and technique of developing players. As Dr. Margot Putukian, a member of the USSF’s Medical Committee, revealed; there is very little data regarding head injuries at younger age groups. Will the USSF’s cautious approach have a negative effect on players’ technique? We will have to wait and see.