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Header Restriction Policy in Youth Soccer Shows Promising Impact on Concussion Rates

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SAN DIEGO, March 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — A new study presented at the 2025 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) examined the impact of a policy implemented by the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) to address youth players heading the soccer ball. Researchers found that the policy was associated with a decrease in soccer-related concussions; however, female players experienced a higher proportion of concussions than their male counterparts.

Soccer is one of the most popular youth sports in the United States and worldwide, and it’s estimated that 3.9 million children play organized soccer in the U.S. each year.i,ii The incidence of concussions in youth soccer is estimated to be 0.19 to 0.28 per 1,000 athletic-exposuresiii or 0.5 concussions per 1,000 playing hours.iv Soccer-related concussion injury mechanisms include accidental contact with another player or field equipment, such as a goal post or the field, and intentional contact between the head and the ball in a technique called a header. Because of growing concerns regarding repeated head trauma, in 2016, the USSF banned headers for athletes under the age of 10 and limited athletes aged 11 to 13 to practicing headers for 30 minutes per week.

“We wanted to assess the impact of this policy on our patients,” said Eugenia Lin, MD, resident at Mayo Clinic Arizona. “While policies are important, we don’t always have the data to determine the effectiveness. This study aimed to analyze the long-term implications of the policy across different age groups, especially in light of growing concerns about traumatic brain injury and chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a progressive brain disease linked to repeated head injuries, in contact sports like football.”

“Pediatric Concussion Injuries in Soccer: Emergency Department Trends in the United States from 2012 to 2023” is an epidemiological analysis utilizing data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) to analyze trends in soccer-related injuries relative to other injuries from soccer. The research team identified a 25.6% relative risk reduction in soccer-related concussions as a percentage of all soccer-related injuries presenting to the emergency department between 2020 to 2023 compared to 2012 to 2015.

Further breakdown of the data revealed distinct concussion trends pre- and post-policy implementation periods and concussion trends from 2012 to 2023 based on age and gender, providing insight into the policy’s differential impact across demographic subgroups. Highlights include:  

Concussions according to time frame

Prior to the policy being enacted, there was an 8% proportion of concussions from 2012 to 2015.From 2020 to 2023, the proportion of concussions in relation to other injuries decreased to 6%, noting a relative risk reduction between time periods.

Concussions according to age

Soccer-related injuries and concussions were stratified by three age cohorts from 2012 to 2023 and data demonstrated an increase in soccer-related injuries and concussions as players got older.

There were 8,793 total soccer-related injuries and 431 concussions (4.9%) in players 6- to 9-years-old.A total of 23,275 soccer-related injuries were reported in players 10- to 13-years-old, of which 1,527 were concussions (6.6%).A total of 26,907 soccer-related injuries were reported in players 14- to 17-years-old, of which 2,397 were concussions (8.9%).

Concussions according to gender

Female players experienced fewer overall soccer-related injuries than male players, but a greater proportion of their injuries were concussions.Female players presented to the emergency department for 21,040 soccer-related injuries between 2012 and 2023, of which 2,010 were concussions (9.6%).Male players were seen for 37,935 soccer-related injuries, of which 2,345 were concussions (6.2%).The proportion of concussion diagnoses for both male and female players was lowest in 2023, at 4.3% and 7.8%, respectively. The highest annual proportion of concussion diagnoses was 8.4% for male players and 10.5% for female players, both in 2012.

“Although not all concussions result from headers, a measurable percentage still do, and it is encouraging to observe a trend indicating a decline in concussion rates,” said Anikar Chhabra, MD, MS, FAAOS, senior author, associate professor and director of Sports Medicine at Mayo Clinic Arizona. “While we cannot attribute this reduction solely to policy changes, these data suggest that these regulations may positively impact different age groups and time periods. Now that physicians, athletic trainers, coaches and parents understand the long-term implications of concussions, it is crucial to continue refining and reinforcing evidence-based policies that prioritize player safety and injury prevention.”

2025 AAOS Annual Meeting Disclosure Statement

About the AAOS
With more than 39,000 members, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons is the world’s largest medical association of musculoskeletal specialists. The AAOS is the trusted leader in advancing musculoskeletal health. It provides the highest quality, most comprehensive education to help orthopaedic surgeons and allied health professionals at every career level to best treat patients in their daily practices. AAOS is the source for information on bone and joint conditions, treatments and related musculoskeletal healthcare issues; and it leads the healthcare discussion on advancing quality.

Follow the AAOS on Facebook, X, LinkedIn and Instagram.

For more information, contact:

i Hulteen RM, Smith JJ, Morgan PJ, et al. Global participation in sport and leisure-time physical activities: a systematic review and meta- analysis. Prev Med. 2017;95:14-2
ii Watson A, Mjaanes JM; Council on Sports Medicine and Fitness. Soccer injuries in children and adolescents. Pediatrics. 2019;144(5): e20192759.
iii Pfister T, Pfister K, Hagel B, Ghali WA, Ronksley PE. The incidence of concussion in youth sports: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Br J Sports Med. 2016;50(5):292-297.
iv Mooney J, Self M, ReFaey K, et al. Concussion in soccer: a comprehensive review of the literature. Concussion. 2020;5(3):CNC76.

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SOURCE American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons

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Achieve named to Az Business Magazine’s ’10 Best Places for Women to Work in Arizona’ for 2026

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July 23, 2026

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Recognition highlights the company’s commitment to creating opportunities for women to grow and lead

SAN MATEO, Calif., July 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Achieve, the leader in digital personal finance, has been named among the 2026 10 Best Places for Women to Work in Arizona by Az Business Magazine. The annual recognition highlights organizations that create supportive environments where women can thrive professionally, advance into leadership roles and build meaningful careers.

The honor reflects Achieve’s ongoing investment in workplace programs that support employee growth, flexibility, leadership development and career advancement. Women serve in leadership roles across the organization and play a critical role in shaping the company’s culture, products and long-term success.

“Creating an environment where women can grow, lead and build rewarding careers is central to who we are as a company,” said Achieve Senior Vice President of Human Resources Heather Marcom. “We’re honored to be recognized among Arizona’s top workplaces for women and remain committed to fostering a culture where employees feel supported, valued and empowered to do their best work.”

Achieve maintains a major corporate presence in the Phoenix area, where hundreds of employees contribute to the company’s mission of helping people move from struggling to thriving financially. The company supports employees through leadership development opportunities, employee resource groups, mentorship and learning programs designed to help team members reach their professional goals.

The recognition adds to a growing list of workplace honors for Achieve. Earlier this year, the company was named among the Top 3 Best Workplaces for LGBTQ+ Employees by BestCompaniesAZ and was also recognized by AZ Big Media as one of Arizona’s Most Admired Companies.

“Strong organizations are built by diverse perspectives and inclusive leadership,” said Marcom. “We’re proud of the talented women across Achieve who help drive our business forward every day and grateful for the impact they make on our employees, customers and communities.”

The 10 Best Places for Women to Work in Arizona list is determined through a public voting process conducted by AZ Big Media and published in Az Business magazine.

About Achieve

Achieve, THE digital personal finance company, helps everyday people get on, and stay on, the path to a better financial future. Achieve pairs proprietary data and analytics with personalized support to offer personal loans, home equity loans, debt relief and debt consolidation, along with financial tips and education and free mobile apps: Achieve MoLO® (Money Left Over) and Achieve GOOD™ (Get Out Of Debt). Achieve is frequently recognized for providing top-rated customer experience and satisfaction by both consumers and leading personal finance review platforms and has 2,200 dedicated teammates across the country, with hubs in Arizona, California, Florida and Texas.

Achieve refers to the global organization and may denote one or more affiliates of Achieve Company, including Achieve.com, Equal Housing Opportunity (NMLS ID #138464); Achieve Home Loans, Equal Housing Opportunity (NMLS ID #1810501); Achieve Personal Loans (NMLS ID #227977); Freedom Debt Relief (NMLS ID # 1248929); and Freedom Financial Asset Management (CRD #170229).

Contacts

Austin Kilgore
akilgore@achieve.com
214-908-5097

Elina Tarkazikis
etarkazikis@achieve.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/achieve-named-to-az-business-magazines-10-best-places-for-women-to-work-in-arizona-for-2026-302833720.html

SOURCE Achieve

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National Press Club Statement on the withdrawal of subpoenas targeting New York Times journalists

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July 23, 2026

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WASHINGTON, July 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — National Press Club President Mark Schoeff Jr. released the following statement:

“The Justice Department’s decision to withdraw subpoenas targeting journalists at The New York Times is a welcome and necessary step to protect the public’s constitutional right to an independent press.

These subpoenas should never have been issued in the first place. Compelling journalists to reveal confidential sources sends a chilling message to those who seek to inform the public and threatens the very foundation of press freedom.

Every American should understand what is at stake when the government turns its investigative powers on journalists. It is not routine. It is an extraordinary intrusion that strikes at the heart of the First Amendment and your right to information about your government.

The greatest danger was not the subpoenas themselves, but the message they sent: That sources could be exposed, that whistleblowers should remain silent, and that the American people might know less about the actions of their own government.

A strong democracy depends on a press that can report freely, hold power to account, and inform the public without intimidation.

We urge continued vigilance to ensure that journalists can do their jobs without interference and that protections for source confidentiality are upheld consistently.”

About the National Press Club

Founded in 1908, the National Press Club is the world’s leading professional organization for journalists and a leading voice for press freedom in the U.S. and worldwide.

Contact: Beth Francesco, Executive Director of the National Press Club Journalism Institute, media@press.org

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SOURCE National Press Club

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NCC Launches NCC Connect™ to Put Credit, Fraud, and Compliance Inside the CRM Dealers Already Use

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July 23, 2026

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A powerful new solution that embeds credit access, fraud detection, and compliance directly into the dealership’s existing CRM — removing the system-switching that slows deals and exposes dealers to risk.

AUSTIN, Texas, July 23, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — NCC, a leading provider of credit and compliance solutions for automotive dealerships, today announced the launch of NCC Connect™, a powerful platform that runs credit, fraud, and compliance from inside the CRM a dealership already uses — without friction or duplicate entry.

“Dealers don’t need another system to log into,” said Brian Skutta, President and CEO of NCC. “They need the tools they already have to work better together. NCC Connect puts credit, fraud detection, and compliance right where the team already works — inside the CRM they use every day.”

“Dealers don’t need another system to log into,” said Brian Skutta, President and CEO of NCC. “They need the tools they already have to work better together. NCC Connect puts credit, fraud detection, and compliance right where the team already works — inside the CRM they use every day.”

As deals grow more complex and fraud more sophisticated, dealers are juggling more disconnected systems than ever — the CRM, the credit system, the compliance tools — switching between them on every transaction. Each switch breaks momentum, invites a skipped step, and slows the path to funding. NCC Connect meets this moment with a single, seamless solution that keeps the full credit, fraud, and compliance engine right where the team already works.

Why NCC Connect Matters Right Now

Dealers lose time and margin switching between the CRM, credit, and compliance systems on every dealAuto lending fraud continues to climb, with industry fraud exposure reaching a record $10.4 billion in 2025, according to Point Predictive’s 2026 Auto Lending Fraud Trends ReportState compliance is tightening, with laws like California’s SB 766 (CARS Act) taking effect October 1, 2026Every disconnected step is another chance for an error, a delay, or a deal that stalls before funding

These pressures are forcing dealers to consolidate, and NCC Connect delivers the edge.

Product Highlights:

Inside the CRM — Soft-pull and hard credit access from all three major bureaus — Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax — without leaving the workflowFraud & Identity Built In — Identity verification and synthetic fraud detection delivered within the credit pull, flagging Red Flag conditions before the deal moves to fundingCompliance on Autopilot — FCRA and FTC controls with automatic, audit-ready documentation stored in the deal record99.99% Uptime — The industry’s highest, so the platform is there when a deal is on the desk

NCC Connect runs soft-pull pre-qualifications and hard credit pulls from any bureau or score model without leaving the CRM, while customer data stays inside the existing CRM structure. Every credit, fraud, and compliance result is captured on the deal record — giving dealers a single, audit-ready source of truth and a faster, cleaner path to funding.

NCC Connect extends the same powerful, credit-first engine behind NCC’s Complete Credit™ platform into the CRM where dealers already work. For dealers, that means more approvals, stronger fraud protection, and faster funding, without changing how the team works.

Learn more about NCC Connect at https://nccdirect.com/ncc-connect/

About NCC:

With offices in Austin, TX, Bettendorf, IA, and Las Vegas, NV, NCC has been a trusted partner in credit-driven retailing for automotive dealerships for nearly three decades. We combine a powerful credit and compliance engine with a fully integrated Desking platform to drive maximum profitability. Our focus on innovation, user-friendly products, and dependable systems — supported by a dedicated account management team — has solidified our reputation as a leader in the industry. www.nccdirect.com

Media Contact

Holly Smith, NCC, 1 8285732722, hsmith@nccdirect.com, https://nccdirect.com/

View original content:https://www.prweb.com/releases/ncc-launches-ncc-connect-to-put-credit-fraud-and-compliance-inside-the-crm-dealers-already-use-302832007.html

SOURCE NCC

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