Heading footballs a health risk, say officials

Specially designed footballs to protect soccer players when they leap for headers were today recommended by US health officials concerned about the sport’s safety.

The study by neurological specialists also considered the merits of making footballers wear helmets to reduce the risk of concussion when heading the ball.

It said soccer players experience concussions about as often as American football players.

The report by the Institute of Medicine, which advises the US government on health matters, said:

‘‘A soccer ball can hit the head with significant force, and there has been considerable debate over whether such heading also fosters brain injury.’’

Studies in the Netherlands had suggested long-term brain deficits among football players, the report said.

Compared to swimmers or track athletes, Dutch soccer players scored significantly lower on tests that measured visual and verbal memory, visual analysis and planning, and mental flexibility.

Dr Muriel Lezak of Oregon Health Sciences University, said: ‘‘Those test results suggest that these players would be slower at learning and remembering new material that they hear or see.’’

Concern over the possible dangers of heading the ball had led some health officials to call for footballers to wear helmets.

But Dr Joseph Crisco, from the US National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment, said there was no headgear on the market designed to protect against concussion.

Helmets currently available are limited to reducing injury caused by a ‘‘straight on’’ blow to the head, whereas most concussions occur when the brain gets twisted, he said.

He also warned that making players wear helmets would encourage the ‘‘Superman phenomenon’’.

‘‘You place equipment on players and they believe they are less at risk so they may place themselves more at risk in getting involved in heading or head-to-head player contact than they normally would.’’

It would be more cost effective to develop standards for footballs so they are not likely to cause brain injury.

‘‘The structure, weight and other material properties of soccer balls all influence the amount of impact they can have on the head,’’ he noted.

He added that the footballs used in Europe were often more highly inflated than those used in the US which meant they had more impact when they struck the head.

The report said there was not yet any direct evidence that heading a ball causes long-term deficits

in mental functions, although studies investigating the links were currently under way.

The report urged managers and parents to become aware of the symptoms of concussion.

It also backed the American Youth Soccer Organisation’s recommendation that children under 10 should not head the ball.