Soccer Players’ Head Injury Risk Could Be Reduced with Simple Adjustments to the Ball

Up to 22 percent of soccer injuries are concussions that can result from players using their heads to direct the ball during a game. To reduce risk of injury, a new study recommends preventing how hard a ball hits the head by inflating balls to lower pressures and subbing them out when they get wet. The study, conducted by Purdue University engineers, found that inflating balls to pressures on the lower end of ranges enforced by soccer governing bodies such as the NCAA and FIFA could reduc