SIDELINE SOCCER SOLUTIONS
YOUTH SOCCER MANAGEMENT
US Soccer has mandated the following rules as it relates to heading:
1
Players in U11 programs and younger shall not engage in heading, either in practices or in games.
2
Limited heading in practice for players in U12 and U13 programs. More specifically, these players shall be limited to a maximum of 30 minutes of heading training per week, with no more than 15-20 headers per player, per week.
3
Clubs should be aware of circumstances in which individual consideration is needed. For example:
A 10 year old playing at U12 or older should not head the ball at all.
An 11 or 12 year old playing at U14 or older should abide by the heading restrictions in practice.
4
Referees should enforce these restrictions by age group according to the specified rules. Referees will not be assessing the age of individual players on the field: they will enforce the rules for the age group.
IMPORTANT NOTE
In adherence to these new requirements, referees have been instructed by U.S. Soccer of the following rule addition: When a player deliberately heads the ball in a game, an indirect free kick (IFK) should be awarded to the opposing team from the spot of the offense. If the deliberate header occurs within the goal area, the indirect free kick should be taken on the goal area line parallel to the goal line at the point nearest to where the infringement occurred.
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For age groups with limited substitutions: Any player suspected of suffering a head injury may be substituted for evaluation without the substitution counting against the team's total number of allowed substitutions during the game.
Sideline Soccer Solutions is governed by the Pennslyvania Law. Please click below to review the concussion and return-to-play laws in PA.
U.S. SOCCER'S
CONCUSSIONS OVERVIEW
Sideline Soccer Solutions strongly recommends that all coaches, staff members, parents, and players watch U.S. Soccer's concussions in soccer overview video.