By Kate Snow, Sarah Koch, Deirdre Cohen and Jessica Hopper
Rock Center
Fifteen-year-old Allison Kasacavage, once a rising soccer star in Pennsylvania, is slowly recovering after suffering debilitating concussions while playing the game she loved.
“It’s almost like I need a sign on my back saying, ‘My head is broken.’ And you can’t see it. It’s like not visible and it’s like not many people understand, “said Allison in an interview with Rock Center’s Kate Snow.
Allison, who lives with her family in Chester Springs, Pa., has had at least five concussions. She is only able to attend school four hours a day. Her room is lit with soft blue light to ease her headaches and her family now eats dinner by candlelight.
She is one of hundreds of girls across America each year who suffer concussions while playing soccer.
“People who think of concussions as only being present mostly in guys and mostly in the sport of football are just plain wrong,” said Dr. Bob Cantu, who is chairman of the surgery division and the director of sports medicine at Emerson Hospital in Concord, Mass. “Soccer is right at the top of the list for girls.”
With the steady popularity of youth soccer, more girls are playing the game than ever before. Girls make up 48 percent of the more than 3 million kids registered in US Youth Soccer leagues.
Cantu said that the country is in the midst of “a concussion crisis” and that studies show girls are reporting nearly twice as many concussions as boys in the sports they both play.
‘Concussion Crisis’ impacting girls’ soccer
The number of girls suffering concussions in soccer accounts for the second largest amount of all concussions reported by young athletes, according to the American Journal of Sports Medicine. (Football tops the list.)
“What’s happening in this country is an epidemic of concussions, number one, and the realization that many of these individuals are going to go on to post-concussion syndrome, which can alter their ability to function at a high level for the rest of their lives,” Dr. Cantu said.
Allison still remembers when she suffered her first serious concussion in October 2008. It came when she collided with another player on the field.
“When I like got up, my head was like pounding,” Allison said. “There was, like, a pulse in my head. It was like the strangest thing. There was a heartbeat in my head and I had no idea what it was and why it was there. I have never felt that before and I was just so confused,” she said.
Click here for more on concussion symptoms
After Allison had apparently healed from the concussion, she returned to soccer. She’d been a star player since she was six years old, working her way up to one of the top teams in Pennsylvania. She said that her identity had been wrapped up in the game and she felt pressure to please her coaches.
Allison said that she was nervous about heading the ball, but continued to do it.
“If you didn’t head the ball, you were like the weakest link,” Allison said.
When heading, players attempt to use their foreheads to direct the ball, often jumping with opposing players, a move that can lead to collisions between players, bumped heads and strained necks. Dr. Cantu says that the act of heading is one of the most dangerous parts of soccer because players often collide.
Allison suffered a third concussion in her final season of soccer and another two off the field, the latter because her spatial awareness had been impacted from her previous concussions and she hit her head on a table and other furniture, her mother said.
Her parents said that they knew about the danger of concussions in sports like football, but it wasn’t until Allison had her first serious head injury that they realized what a big problem concussions can be in soccer.
“I think that we were blind to what was going on around us because, yes, it was about the team. It was about the winning. It was about all the, it was almost like a routine of, like I said, an awful lot of practices and you just went through it and really your lives rolled by with soccer being the most important thing,” said Lex Kasacavage, Allison’s father.
Sports psychologist Richard Ginsburg says that enthusiasm for the game and the kids by parents and coaches, while well-meaning, might be making the concussion crisis worse.
“We get wrapped up,” said Ginsburg, the author of ‘Whose Game is it Anyway?’ “We want success for them and so sometimes we get, we lose perspective. It doesn’t make us terrible people. It just makes us human. “
NBC News
Kimmie Zeffert
In Allison’s town of Chester Springs, about 30 miles from downtown Philadelphia, she is not alone. She has bonded with at least five other 14 and 15-year-old girls who have suffered concussions while playing soccer.
“My main friends are actually people that have head injuries,” said one of the teens, Kimmie Zeffert, 14. “I’ve become so close with them because I can relate to them. They understand what I’m going through.”
Kimmie had her first concussion when she was 12.
“I took another head ball and then I don’t even remember,” she said. “The next thing is I got, apparently, got elbowed in the back of the head. But (when) the coach asked me if I wanted to come out, I was like, ‘No, I’m going, I’m going to stick it through.”
Those hits -- heading the ball and being elbowed by a player in the head -- ended her soccer career.
Kimmie’s teammate Jenna Rohr made the same choice to continue playing in her game after getting hit in the head.
“I didn’t want to quit,” she said. “I didn’t want to let my team down because, like, so many people already had concussions on the team.”
Both Jenna and Kimmie have been unable to make it through a full day of school for almost two years. They still suffer from intense headaches, dizziness, nausea and vision problems.
Along with their physical ailments, several of the girls NBC News spoke to have struggled with depression since leaving soccer. Some have taken anti-depressants. One teen soccer player, who is returning to the sport after suffering a concussion, said that she felt so terrible at one point that she even thought about suicide.
Despite their experiences, the teens still love soccer and say they don’t discourage their former teammates from the sport.
“I think like speaking for all of us, like we would do anything to just be able to play one more game,” Jenna said.
Should heading be banned from girls’ soccer?
Dr. Cantu has made the bold proposal that heading be eliminated from youth soccer under the age of 14. He said girls, because of their anatomy, may be especially vulnerable to concussions.
“Girls as a group have far weaker necks,” Cantu said. “The same force delivered to a girl’s head spins the head much more because of the weak neck than it does the guys.”
New research suggests some body types may be more at risk than others.
“We believe that individuals with very long, thin necks may be at greater risk,” Cantu said.
With this evidence, Cantu said, “I would hope it would not only make parents look at their daughters, but make every one of those parents insist their daughters are on a neck strengthening program if they’re playing a collision sport.”
Brandi Chastain, the Olympian who helped the United States win a World Cup, strongly disagrees with Cantu’s proposal to eliminate heading from girls’ soccer.
“It’s a part of the game and I think it’s an important part and I think it’s a beautiful part of the game, to be honest with you,” she said. “I would never want to see that go away, but there’s a right way to do it. There’s a protective way to do it.”
Chastain said that girls need to be taught to create protective space around their bodies. She says heading isn’t dangerous if it’s done correctly.
“I circle back to education and preparation and I put that on parents and coaches because the kids don’t know any better,” Chastain added. “You know, they just want to go out there and play, but if we can educate them in a fun environment that’s safe, that teaches them the skill and gives them the confidence to try it and then they can put it into practice in the game.”
Back in Pennsylvania, the girls and their families are trying to educate people based on their own experiences. Despite their concussions, though, they say they don’t want to discourage girls from playing soccer.
“Please don’t go and not play soccer because it’s such a great opportunity for the girls to just prove themselves and challenge themselves and make friends and travel,” said Wendy Zeffert, mother of Kimmie. “But be aware.”
Leave a Comment:
Helmet and mouthpiece = problem solved.
Next?
I've played soccer "football" since I was a child, what I was taught was using your head is the last option to hit the ball with. If a ball is coming from really high then you need great ball control that needs to be taught since your a child. control is everything in other words keep the ball on the ground. or bring it down using your chest or thigh or foot. and if you are going to use your head use your forehead please.
I have a daughter that plays soccer for TCU - it is a very physical game at that level and even thought the girls are older (18-22) they still get head injuries (concussions). I am in full agreement with mandatory head gear - not just for girls, but for boys as well! We wouldnt dream of letting anyone play football without a helmet - i think soccer should be played with protective head gear as well!
Just stop all competitive sports and have children play only checkers but make sure they wear protective clothing including gloves, eye covers, and body armor in case some one chucks a checker. I was going to suggest tiddlywinks but someone could break a nail or lose an eye from a random flying tiddly. Jacks and/or hopscotch are just too dangerous to even consider.
Bah, giving head is probably the safest sport for girls.
If that girl didn't know the word "like", she wouldn't be able to speak at all.
Easy to solve...put helmets on the girls.
REF's REF's REF's, they far too often let these games get out of control. I blame them for most of the injuries on the field. Don’t get me wrong, there are some great ref's out there who are not affraid to pull out the yellow and red cards and "set the tone" for the game, but i find a lot of them are there just for a few extra bucks on the weekend and couldn’t care less to even blow the whistle for a foul. The head bands are a great thing my daughter wears one now after she received a concussion 2 years ago, we also had to twist her arm to wear it as it wasn’t cool, low and behold she was the first, now half the team wears them.
REF’s you really need to step it up out there, I’m sure most of you think “ehh its girls soccer who cares” we the parents care and should be able to hold you accountable for injuries that occur because you let the game get out of hand.
great point - seen similar in basketball, and your right - if they had called some fouls earlier the concussions might not have occurred
Yeah lets blame the refs instead of the bad parenting.
Congratulations you're a moron
Rrrriiiiiiight. Bad parenting. Yup, I'm a horrible parent because I let my son play soccer and my daughter play field hockey. Joan Crawford ain't got nothing on me!
So when the ref doesn't call fouls, just "let's the boys play", and by the end of the game 6 boys are out from injuries, it's *MY* fault as a parent. Ummm...how's that again?
how about not play a sport that you have to bounce a ball with your HEAD. SIMPLE
Exactly. Ban soccer.
What this article does not address is the cumulative effect of smaller hits that don't cause obvious trauma. Hitting something with your head repeatedly over a time span of decades is not smart. Heading may be " a beautiful part of the game" but it may be one that causes injury no matter how it's done.
Impact protective headbands should be a must.
Why does it have to be such a hard decision?
I spent several hours researching soccer headgear when my son made the high school team, finally settling on www.forcefieldheadbands.com (also some good medical info here). At only $10, it seemed pretty reasonable and has good science behind it.
Unfortunately, the boy didn't want to wear it and I didn't force the issue. Until he get a ball to the head, that is, and got concussed. Don't know that the headgear would have helped in that exact situation, but I put my foot down and told him that if he went onto the field without the headband again, it would be his last game, period. He didn't argue...maybe the headache made arguing too painful.
Of note, his JV team started out with 13 players and in a 9 game season lost 3 of them for at least a game apiece due to concussions (one boy was lost for the season).
My daughter plays soccer for TCU and it IS a very physical game at that level. Even thought those girls are 18-22, there are still too many head injuries (1 is too many in my book!). Those girls are there because they love the game - but with just about every sport there are risks. We would not dream of letting anyone play football without a helmet, i think soccer players (girls AND boys alike!) should be required to wear protective head gear - that would be a win-win situation!
Let's just hang out at the library and quit all this meanie sports stuff.
We are talking about soccer right? Soccer, where you run around and kick a ball. You people supporting the use of a helmet for soccer are crazy. Dangerous sport. Your kids are all going to grow up to be outstanding......................sissys!!
Like at the track meets, or softball, baseball. Everyone gets a little trophy because EVERYONE IS A WINNER! Errrrrrr. Wrong answer. We are sliding down the math and science comprehension on the world stage every year. If only the world superpower rankings were determined by compassion and puppies.
My daughter plays soccer all year long. I think the problem is that most coaches want kids to play the sport like hockey players. instead of teaching them that soccer is a passing game they are teaching them to barrell kids over at one of my daughters tournaments the goalie gut hurt bad and was out of school the whole year from brain injury because the girl on the other team thought it was good to keep kicking her in the head while the goalie still had the ball. my daughter hasnt had a head injury. she has hurt her knee so I make her do leg excersices to strangthen her knee and a knee brace when she plays its been 4 years and she hasnt re injured it. so I think coaches teach the girls to head the ball to much and to be to pushy they need to play the sport the way it should be passing game not check a girl.
Some folks still don't get it. I didn't play soccer but got my concussions in hockey. Before I got them I didn't get it either. But she is right about no one can see it so its like its not there. If you break your leg everyone is so sympathetic but with a concussion its just "when are you coming back"? And with post concussion syndrome the docs just shrug their shoulders because they don't know what the prognosis or treatment is.
For any post concussion sufferers reading this, all I can say is hang in there. I got it after the last time but I recovered after 4 months of a constant migraine. And yes it is ten times worse than a broken bone. You might recover in less time or more time. Just hang in there. Everyone is different. The worst part is hearing the doc say that you may never recover but I think those cases are very rare. In fact, I saw Doctor Cantu at Emerson and he advised me to be patient with recovery and to not play contact sports again.
I'm 19 months post concussion and still not healed. Thanks for your comments! I read as much about concussions as possible. I just posted a long comment because of the amount of misinformation being posted here. I think my post is on page 7 of the comments if you want to read it. Thanks again!
Ok, here we go! Pro football players and now girls soccer players? I think I got a concussion yesterday when I sneezed after I mowed my lawn.
good article except for the Obama advertisement at
the top cheerleading for Obama administration. Shameless.
you should never let a kid go back to play after an injury let them heal well when my daughter hurt her knee I pulled her for 6 months to heel and strangthen her knee if your child has a head injury pull them for a year the brain takes longer to heal and then get them a head band for when the ball hits there head there is some cushion to prtect and they need to card girls who keep kicking a goalie who has the ball. sports are ruff but there are rules to follow. just like in any sport. coaches need to teach sportsman ship to kids I have watched girls laugh because they hurt someone who was down or instead of taking a knee they get up talk and laugh.
Check out a couple of links that show a product others are using to help to determine return to play and help make the decision more objective by using baseline testing prior to playing games or practice.
www.dynavisiond2.com/articles/dynavision-getting-insight-on-concussions.pdf
www.dynavisiond2.com/concussion.php
Couple things. A full-90 headgear will help against head collisions or heading the ball only. A mouth piece will help with a collision to the JAW. My daughter's concussions were due to being hit square in the jaw while goal tending-and being knocked out cold from it. Goes on from there to now small jars to the head cause concussions or symtoms. There are some kids that aren't as prone to these injuries, and others are affected much more.
Chastain has a good point, heading is a part of the game and coaches can educate their players on technique for safety. Safety should be included in the essential make-up of the club coaching direction, and educate the "rec" or volunteer coaches.
Parents and coaches alike should be hyper aware of concussion symptoms and be adament about removing a player to rest/recover - even the stubborn players!
Been there done that with a soccer girl and multiple concussions that have lead to the end of her soccer career and any contact sports. She has just turned 13 and already we've had to shut so many doors of sports play opportunities in lieu of keeping her safe, alive and healthy.
Like my head totally hurts, and i'm so like, depressed, like if only they would have like, given me a helmet, like who can mommy and like daddy like, sue today?
i think that goalies should have a different type of head gear that is designed to protect them from feet, etc...... its a different position and has different risks. (aka-catcher in baseball) Our goalie got kicked in the face while on the ground and it broke her nose. Of course there was a red card after that but the damage was already done. Perhaps something should be designed with goalies in mind - something to protect their head and their face - that thought has crossed my mind many, many times!
forcefield head bands.....my girls wear them.....they can help reduce the risk of a concussion
The presence or absence of protective equipment isn't going to necessarily change the nature of how, who, when, where, or to what degree someone suffers a concussion. In many cases it doesn't even have to involve a direct blow to the head. A player can get "Body Checked", their head carom from side to side, and they'll exhibit signs of a concussion.
The point I wish to make is this: early recognition by the coach, parent, athletic trainer, team doctor, etc. after witnessing an athlete getting struck in the head who exhibits signs and symptoms of a concussion should be removed from that activity immediately and not be permitted to return to play that day. They should not participate in any physical or demanding mental activity (strength training, CV fitness, competition, typing, reading, testing, etc.) while symptomatic, and they may not return to athletics until they have been "cleared" by a physician specializing in the recognition, management, and treatment of concussions. In many cases, the recovery period is too short for our young athletes, and what is often overlooked is the need to engage in "brain rest"... abstinence from TV, video games, music, text messaging, bright lights, driving, or any other physical/cognitive trigger that provokes the symptoms of the concussion.
The individual needs to be reevaluated on a regular basis to mark their progress, and ideally it should be done in comparison to a "base-line" test when they are in good health, symptom free. Most evaluations can be done in less than 15 minutes, and more extensive testing these days involves the use of standardized computer tests.
The frustrating thing in assessing an athlete for concussion is "how do you make it more "objective" in nature?" The assessor must avoid "leading questions" and be advised, most athletes are going to lie when you simply ask them "How do you feel?" This is why I recommend computerized concussion testing along with a balance scoring system and other physical assessments.
An athlete suffering from a concussion is only going to be able to hide the symptoms for so long. That's why it's so important to emphasize early recognition, followed by the thorough administration of a standardized assessment, and continue with careful management of the post-concussive syndrome.
As I care for, treat, and heal athletes every day, I often tell them this: of all the things you'll lose in life, you'll miss your mind the most...