Re: headgear
Cheryl Singhal (csinghal@CAPACCESS.ORG)
Wed, 21 Aug 1996 09:34:22 -0400
On Wed, 21 Aug 1996, Ronald Dean wrote:
> While watching my oldest at practice a thought came to me and what better
> place to ask than here. We have bike, motorcycle, ski, baseball, hockey,
> football, rollerblade,
> lacrosse, amatuer boxing, and karate helmets. Did I leave any out? Anyway ,
> they are all designed to protect us from blows to the head.
>
> Why then do we teach the kids in soccer to head the ball ?
>
Major reason: in soccer only the goalie may touch the ball with his hands.
> I'm told that if done properly there is no danger. What 6 year old is going
Well, Yes, this is what I was told; it seems to be true, because Pele is
one whale of a lot better off than your average boxer.
> to know how to head a ball properly ? Especially a high ball in the heat of
That's coaches are for -- to teach 'em. Besides, according to my son and
his soccer team, you learn fast how to hit it without making yourself hurt.
> a close game. Are you not 10-12 years old before your brain is fully
A 10-12 yr old boy is likely passing the ball at speeds his peers can
handle, if they are of a size. A 16-19 yr old passing to a 10 yr old
could do serious damage, and this is one of the reasons the ages are
separated.
> attached to the skull ? In pro boxing don't they try to land a blow to the
> head to knock their opponent out? Look what happens to the boxers as they age.
I believe what they're aiming for is the point of the chin. <G>
> Am I just being an overprotective Dad? It may be a slim chance of
> something happening, but I do not know that I want to take that chance. We
> can not protect them all the time, but why have them intentionally do
> something that is potentially harmful. Seems to me it falls in the same
> catagory as hand feeding the bear and deer we have been talking about.
Teaching them to take their own baths is potentially harmful; as is
feeding oneself, crossing the street, mowing the lawn, driving, or
(sorry) sledding. <G> We grit our teeth, chew tons of TUMS, and hope for
the best.
** || "You are my son. **
|| csinghal@capaccess.org ** It was no effort." ||
** cheryl_singhal@cpafug.blkcat.com || **
|| Cheryl.Singhal@f422.n109.z1.fidonet.org ** ST: IV. ||
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City | 
