The soccer league that Cordelia played in banned contact between head and ball until fifth or sixth grade (it was considered a foul with a penalty attached to discourage kids from doing it deliberately), and even at that point, most of the parent coaches told their teams not to do it. This league required that everyone who joined be allowed equal playing time and didn't bother keeping score in any official way.
I'm pretty sure that the travel teams encouraged it, though. We just never went that way because it wasn't something that Cordelia wanted or that we could have managed. Those teams have tryouts and long travel times for games (with parents responsible for driving) and about four hours of practice a week. Plus costing hundreds of dollars. Kids who are serious about soccer start moving to travel teams in about third grade.
Softball, t-ball, and baseball, at least around here, require batting helmets for all players. The organization provides some, but many parents end up buying their own to avoid the risk of lice. But better risk lice than risk concussion.
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Date: 2017-08-05 03:23 pm (UTC)I'm pretty sure that the travel teams encouraged it, though. We just never went that way because it wasn't something that Cordelia wanted or that we could have managed. Those teams have tryouts and long travel times for games (with parents responsible for driving) and about four hours of practice a week. Plus costing hundreds of dollars. Kids who are serious about soccer start moving to travel teams in about third grade.
Softball, t-ball, and baseball, at least around here, require batting helmets for all players. The organization provides some, but many parents end up buying their own to avoid the risk of lice. But better risk lice than risk concussion.