The Aerial program helps kids head the soccer ball safely

This content was originally authored by Galen Moller for the 11/14/19 edition of our Weekly Concussion Update newsletter.

Most concussions in soccer are caused by players colliding with each other, and many of these collisions occur when players are attempting to head the ball. 5% of female players and 2.5% of male players are concussed over one season of youth soccer, according to researchers at the University of Washington. In an effort to lower youth concussion rates, U.S. Soccer does not allow athletes to start learning or using heading techniques until after they turn 11 years old, but according to the UW Sports Institute, “no standardized program exists to train kids to head the ball properly as they grow in the sport.”

The institute collaborated with VICIS and former Seattle Sounders player Roger Levesque to create The Aerial program, which aims to reduce heading-related concussions in soccer by ensuring that players learn proper heading techniques as early as possible. In an interview with Q13 Fox, Dr. Sara Chrisman, from the Sports Institute, explains that the program’s goal “is to prevent collisions by improving heading technique, core strength, and awareness of the body in space during aerial maneuvers.” With their pilot program complete, the institute is now preparing to launch Aerial on a larger scale with the ultimate goal of reducing head injuries in youth soccer as interest in the sport grows.