Derrick Z. Jackson writes that scientific research increasingly suggests it’s time to discuss a ban on heading in soccer, particularly on the youth level. Whilenot as relentlessly violent as football — girls’ soccer is still, by total numbers, the nation’s second-leading source of sports-related concussions on the high school level. Andconcussions in the sport occur at a rate only surpassed by men’s football, hockey, and lacrosse.
That would be a shame, ban heading in soccer. No more behemoths charging into the goal mouth, smashing into one another. Just a bunch of skilled athletes, playing the beautiful game with skill and precision. Why teams would all have to start playing like Barcelona. What a tragedy.