Amidst the soccer frenzy surrounding the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Arizona has decided to limit heading practices for high school soccer players in the state.

The number of concussions occurring in youth soccer are second only to football. Doctors believe that the practice of heading can fatigue the muscles around the neck and skull which can result in a susceptibility to concussions.

In 2014, a class action lawsuit was filed against six soccer organizations on heading practices in youth soccer. The lawsuit sought to limit heading practices for players under the age of 17, claiming that the practice could cause concussions due to overuse of neck muscles.

At the time, the Arizona Youth Soccer Association claimed a neutral stance on the issue, making no comment on the possibility of limiting heading practices.

Yet, this year, Arizona has changed its tune and is limiting the practices that were questioned four years ago. In an interview with KTAR News, Javier Cardenas of Barrow Neurological Institute stated that the move was in an effort “…to set an example for health and safety around concussions.”

Cardenas states that the main cause of concussions is collisions, but he is “always concerned about heading, especially when athletes go up for an aerial challenge.”