US Soccer Player Safety Campaign - Concussion Update

US Soccer Player Safety Campaign - Concussion Update

Randolph Soccer Club complies with all concussion related rules/guidelines as implemented in the various leagues and tournaments within which our teams play.

US Soccer's recommendations are as follows:

  • Players U11 and younger shall not engage in heading, either in practices or in games.
  • Players U12 & U13 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.
  • Players playing with an older age group should follow the guidelines for their actual age group, i.e. a 10 year old playing U12 or older should not head the ball at all.
  • Referees should enforce these restrictions by age group.  Referees will not be assessing the age of individual players on the field; they will enforce the rules for the age group.
  • Leagues and organizations are free to set their own standards, as long as the minimum requirements outlined above are met.
  • US Soccer has instructed referees to add the following rule:  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.
  • A modification to substitution rules is also part of this change:  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.

Click HERE to view US Soccer's Concussions in Soccer Overview Video.

New Jersey Youth Soccer has adopted a policy of NO HEADING in games or practices for u11 teams and below and for 10 year old players and younger playing up.

Click HERE to see NJYS Deliberately Heading the Ball game guidelines for referees.

Click HERE to see NJYS guidelines for U12 to U14 players.