Examining the get aHEAD safely in soccer program in male youth soccer players over a competitive season

Soccer heading training and neck/core strengthening drills, such as those found as part of the Get aHEAD Safely in Soccer™ program, have been proposed to mitigate potential risks, especially to youth players. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of the Get aHEAD Safely in Soccer™ program in male youth soccer players on neck/head girth, neck strength, neurocognitive function, and balance. These metrics were measured before and after a competitive season for two U12 soccer teams. 21 male youth soccer players were divided into two groups (control vs. training). The training group (N=10) completed 8 weeks of training associated with the Get aHEAD Safely in Soccer™ program. Outcome measures included head/neck girth, isometric neck strength, Child SCAT-6 neurocognitive screening, the Balance Error Scoring System, and timed tandem gait. Our findings denoted a small decrease in left neck flexion strength (p=0.004) and BESS performance (p=0.0003); however, our sample size was underpowered. Further studies utilizing larger sample sizes and extended training periods will work to further validate the effectiveness of the Get aHEAD Safely in Soccer™ program.