Question Number: 20080

Law 18 - Common Sense 9/27/2008

RE: competitive Under 17

Donna Mello of Portsmouth, RI 02871 USA asks...

I have a comment about the mother's e-mail I most recently read about her daughter wearing a cast while playing soccer. My son was hit in the temple area by an opposing player wearing an arm cast in a game in June, 2008. He suffered post concussion syndrome. He had daily headaches for 4 wks., fogginess, sensitivity to light, unable to concentrate and unable to read. He had to quit his job, slept most of the summer and could not participate in any physical activity. He had a catscan, saw an eye specialist, had cranial sacral therapy and accupuncture. He did the Impact congnitive test online to evaluate his injury after we consulted a concussion specialist. He was finally cleared after 10 weeks and slowly worked his way back to playing on his high school soccer team. He avoids headballs at all costs.
With all that has happened to him, we have become extremely educated on the dangers of concussions. It is quite disturbing to us that a sport such as soccer where helmets are not worn, allows arm casts to be. The players need to remove all jewelery but yet can fashion an arm cast? I realize the understanding is that it is allowed if properly wrapped. The player that hit my son had some padding but not nearly enough. He was never checked prior to the game and after my husbands insistence, the medical personnel at the tournament checked it and deemed it inappropriately wrapped. In such a sport (like most others) where concussions are quite common, we have difficulty accepting the fact that we would put our players in MORE danger by allowing arm casts. Most recently, my son removed a bracelet made of thread to play in his high school game....yet a player can be allowed to play with an arm cast? The danger we are putting our players in is extreme...my son's situation could've been a LOT worse if a brain bleed had occured. How can intelligent adults, physicians, parents, and players NOT see that this is unacceptable? Thank you for your time, Donna Mello

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Hopefully your son will continue with a complete recovery.

It seems the issue is not so much the rule that allows a cast, but that the referee didn't adequately inspect it to be sure that it was safely padded.

Some competitions do ban casts altogether.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Donna, you have written a wonderful letter showing why most states prohibit the wearing of casts be they padded or not. AT higher levels of play it is possible for casts to be made safe as the more skilled players can better control where their arms go. You should check with the Rhode Island youth soccer authorities to see if casts are allowed at all. In Georgia we allow no casts, period.

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