Book Description
ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to observe heading mechanics among female soccer players while heading a ball with and without protective headgear and to assess participants attitudes towards headgear. Subjects included 19 female college soccer players. A ball was propelled at 35 mph to subjects 35 ft away. Subjects headed the ball three times with and without protective headgear. Heading mechanics were analyzed using Dartfish where measurements were taken for neck and hip angle, and head distance traveled. All variables were measured in the ready and strike stance. No significant (p >.05) interaction was found for headgear and stance conditions for both neck and hip angle. Subjects experienced significantly (p .05) greater neck and hip angles during the strike stance(153.22 + 13.23/ 146.84 + 18.41) than the ready stance (129.52 + 14.38; 137.30 + 17.75). No significant (p .05) mean differences were found for head distance. When asked their opinion on if headgear was effective, 10 subjects responded that headgear was not effective and 9 agreed that headgear was effective in some capacity. Of the 19 subjects, 7 agreed that while wearing the protective headgear one would play more aggressively due to feeling safer with headgear on than without headgear. Based on the findings, it can be inferred that the use of protective headgear does not alter heading mechanics among college level female soccer players