Background Soccer is one of the fastest growing youth sports in the United States. Currently there are about 3 million American youths playing soccer. The risk of injury is inherent to participation in sports. In 1998, soccer injuries in children numbered about half that of football injuries. Analyses of sports injuries in adult players may not be applicable to assessment of risks to children.
Brain development continues throughout childhood and adolescence.
Cranial bones continue to thicken throughout this period as well. Because of differences in anatomy and physiologic response to cerebral trauma, head injury in adults does not generalize to children. This is supported by animal studies that show differences between young and adult responses to mild traumatic brain injuries on learning behaviors. These observations pose challenges to the investigation and interpretation of sports-related head injuries in youths. This PIF will provide an initial assessment of the scope of research on head injury and its applicability to children at different stages of development.