A study of female soccer players at one high school has found that they are twice as likely to suffer a concussion while playing the sport than their male counterparts.
Participation in the study, conducted by the University of Wisconsin, was voluntary for players at Northland Pines High School in Eagle River, Wis. Northland Pines athletic director Brian Margelofsky pointed to three findings in particular: the rate of concussions was twice as high for females, there is a certain concussion risk reduction for players wearing headgear (players were fitted with the headgear of their choosing at no cost), and most concussions — eight out of every 10 — occurred in game situations.
As reported by WXPR public radio, Marelofsky felt the study raised more questions, such as were coaches shying away from ball-to-head contact in practice and were players themselves less likely to head in practice? Margelofsky felt offering headgear is a good idea as an added safety feature, but that parents and players should decide if they should use it.