Schools
Shipley Bans Heading During Middle School Soccer: Should Others Follow Suit?
"While we know that this decision will not completely prevent concussions, we feel it will improve things for everyone," Shipley's head of school says.
The Shipley School, citing the impact that concussions can have on young minds, has banned heading in soccer for its Middle School students, and will encourage other schools to do the same.
In a letter to Shipley families, Head of School Steven S. Piltch writes: "Today’s data strongly indicate that head hits for Middle Schoolers have much more impact than once believed and that too often these players have not learned to head the ball correctly, that their necks, shoulders, and backs are not well enough developed to do the task properly, and that recurring use of heading increases the incidence of short-term and long-term problems."
Piltch says Shipley, in Bryn Mawr, will work with other schools to encourage them to ban heading as well.
"While we know that this decision will not completely prevent concussions, we feel it will improve things for everyone," Piltch said.
See Piltch's full letter here.
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