Dutch Sports Council: Ban headers, mandate helmets

Protecting Young Athletes
Concern over brain injury has grown since warnings from the Health Council earlier this year. There is research that clearly demonstrates that even one hit to the head can potentially cause a concussion, and repeated hits can lead to increased risk for dementia, Parkinson's disease and ALS. Recent studies indicated that professional football players are two to three times more likely than the average person to develop dementia, and children are generally more susceptible.

Addressing these risks, the Sports Council recommends a total ban on headers in football, headbutting in combat sports, and tackles in rugby for children under 12. For teenagers, ages 12 to 18, the practices are endorsed but very strongly discouraged with advisement on limiting any repeated head contact from those actions.

For the adults, the recommendation is to limit the practice of repeated head contact in competitive sports activities.

Mandatory Helmets in High Risk Sports
The recommendations from the Sports Council also include mandatory helmets in sports with risks such as falls, like horseback riding, cycling, skiing, and skating; Tom van 't Hek indicated that extra caution should be taken when addressing brain safety. "We ask everyone to err on the side of caution," he said.

Next Steps for Implementation
The recommendations are to be sent to the State Secretary Judith Tielen of Public Health, Welfare, and Sport, who will determine if they will listen to the recommendations. Although the Sports Council recommendations are not binding, they have a large impact on policy surrounding sports safety in the Netherlands.