Chris Miller
President - Missouri Soccer High School Coaches Association
NSCAA Boys All America National Chair
May 24, 2017
Coaches -
I am writing on behalf of our sport, the state of Missouri, and most importantly, your players. Over the past few years, soccer has seen an increase in reported concussions and head injuries. It is a ntaional problem and one that really threatens the safety of our players. I think it is time for MO to stand up and be an innovator to our sport. I have waited for the NFHS to make some kind of statement on making headgear a mandatory thing, but I don't know that it will happen soon, so I am asking you to help make a stand by encouraging your players to wear some sort of concussion band/headgear protection.
This spring, I basically made my girls team ALL wear them. It was as part of their uniform as their shinguards and socks. We wore them at practices and games all year and not one complaint came, but more importantly, NOT ONE HEAD INJURY, EITHER. To be honest, no headgear is 100% protective - that's evidenced in football where helmets do not protect players fully. However, headbands can reduce the risk of injury - that much has been proven.
In any case, we teamed up with ForceField this spring and purchased their headbands for each player (the school did it for us, actually, so no cost to the players). I have spoken with the owner of ForceField and he is willing to work out a deal with all MO Association Coaches. You can order in bulk or have your players do so individually.
Simply call it into a private number: 516-482-5310 and tell them you are a Missouri Soccer Coaches Association member and they will work prices out with you. Here's the website: www.forcefieldheadbands.com.
We used the ForceField Regular for our group this year and they worked great. The bands are soft and feel more like a sweatband, but with padding in necessary areas. Our boys will be wearing them in the fall, as well.
Thanks for considering this - I believe we should be at the forefront of progress with soccer safety and encourage you to at least check out the website.
Thanks!
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Chris Miller
President - Missouri Soccer High School Coaches Association
NSCAA Boys All America National Chair www.mosoccercoach.com
573-999-9891