Characterization of On-Field Head Impact Exposure in Youth Soccer

Abstract

The objective of this research was to characterize head impacts with a validated mouthpiece sensor in competitive youth female soccer players during a single season with a validated mouthpiece sensor. Participants included 14 youth female soccer athletes across 2 club-level teams at different age levels (team 1, ages 12–13 y; team 2, ages 14–15 y). Head impact and time-synchronized video data were collected for 66 practices and games. Video data were reviewed to characterize the type and frequency of contact experienced by each athlete. A total of 2216 contact scenarios were observed; heading the ball (n = 681, 30.7%) was most common. Other observed contact scenarios included collisions, dives, falls, and unintentional ball contact. Team 1 experienced a higher rate of headers per player per hour of play than team 2, while team 2 experienced a higher rate of collisions and dives. A total of 935 video-verified contact scenarios were concurrent with recorded head kinematics. While headers resulted in a maximum linear acceleration of 56.1g, the less frequent head-to-head collisions (n = 6) resulted in a maximum of 113.5g. The results of this study improve the understanding of head impact exposure in youth female soccer players and inform head impact exposure reduction in youth soccer.

Head Impact Exposure and Biomechanics in University Varsity Women’s Soccer

“… 14 A study investigating U13 and U16 girls soccer found U13 girls were exposed to 4.6 headers per hour (3.8 headers per hour in games and 5.1 headers per hour in practice) and U16 girls were exposed to 0.7 headers per hour (0.5 headers per hour in games and 0.9 headers per hour in practice). 49 Another study reported 7.2 headers per athlete exposure in U14 girls soccer. 41 Our peak impact kinematics also fall between the reported values from two previous U13–U16 girls soccer studies.…”

“…For players stance, higher impact kinematics resulted from jumping head impacts, which is consistent with Tomblin. 49 In soccer, the proper heading technique is for players to use their forehead. 1 , 21 , 48 Our kinematics results imply that proper heading may lead to lower impact kinematics, while improper technique (top impacts/side impacts) may lead to higher impact kinematics.…”

“… 13 , 33 , 41 This threshold also matches research conducted recently using the same mouthpiece sensors. 49 Once the mouthpiece was triggered, head kinematics data were collected at 1000 Hz for 150 ms (30 ms pre-impact, 120 ms post-impact). After each practice or game, impact data were downloaded from each mouthpiece.…”

“… 41 Additionally, through video verification of on-field head impacts, the mouthpieces showed an overall sensitivity of 69.2% and a positive predictive value of 80.3% in head impact detection. Such mouthpiece sensors are easily adopted in sports such as soccer, where athletes do not typically wear mouthguards, and have been piloted in U13–U14 girls soccer, 33 , 41 , 49 and collegiate women’s soccer. 11 …”

Head biomechanics of video recorded falls involving children in a childcare setting

“…While wearable sensors have previously been used to characterize head biomechanics in youth sports 40 , 44 – 52 , to our knowledge this is the first study capturing head biomechanics using these devices in pediatric falls. (Only one other study has used wearable sensors to investigate pediatric falls in a controlled laboratory setting but comprehensive biomechanics data was not reported 53 .)…”