Youth Soccer Participation and Brain Health Outcomes in Adolescent Athletes - Report - MDSpire

Youth Soccer Participation and Brain Health Outcomes in Adolescent Athletes

  • By

  • Inga K. Koerte

  • Tim L. T. Wiegand

  • Elena M. Bonke

  • Stian K. Sandmo

  • David Kaufmann

  • Caroline Seer

  • Anja K. Betz

  • Alberto De Luca

  • Johanna Seitz-Holland

  • Marc Muehlmann

  • Martin Cente

  • Doron Elad

  • Thiago Santos Monteiro

  • Bettina Schwarz-Mörtl

  • Malo Gaubert

  • Elisabeth Kaufmann

  • Michaela V. Bonfert

  • Florian Heinen

  • Alexander P. Lin

  • Martha E. Shenton

  • Yorghos Tripodis

  • Roald Bahr

  • Peter Filipcik

  • Jolien Gooijers

  • Alexander Leemans

  • Nir Sochen

  • Stephan P. Swinnen

  • Ofer Pasternak

  • REPIMPACT Consortium Investigators

  • Sylvain Bouix

  • Fanny Dégeilh

  • Alexandra Gersing

  • Felicitas Heinen

  • Leonard Jung

  • Janna Buring

  • Paul Raffelhueschen

  • Paula Schorlemer

  • Alexandra Castro Silva

  • Lisa Umminger

  • Tars van Craenenbroeck

  • Sam Lauwen

  • Milan Laurent

  • Mathias Smits

  • Gilles Liesenborghs

  • Janne van Hauwenhuyse

  • Alana Lutz

  • Dogan Hasko

  • Tim de Keyzer

  • Lien Meulemans

  • Serafien D'Hooghe

  • Stijn Coenaerts

  • Lauren Swinnen

  • Inge Leunissen

  • Thor Einar Andersen

  • Erling Hisdal

  • Audun Hustad Torgersen

  • Jozef Hanes

  • Katarina Matyasova

  • June 22, 2026

  • 0 min

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Impact of Youth Soccer Engagement on Neurological Health in Adolescent Players

Overview

The REPIMPACT study investigates the effects of repetitive head impacts in youth soccer players on cognitive and neurological health. This prospective, longitudinal, multicenter cohort study aims to assess cognition, behavior, balance, neuroimaging, and plasma biomarkers across a single competitive season in adolescent male soccer players and matched male noncontact sport athletes.

Background

Repetitive head impacts (RHIs) in sports, particularly soccer, raise concerns about long-term neurological health, including risks for conditions like chronic traumatic encephalopathy. With over 22 million adolescents participating in soccer globally, understanding the implications of heading is crucial. Current evidence is limited, necessitating well-designed studies to clarify the impact of youth soccer participation on brain health.

Data Highlights

No numerical data or trial results are provided in the source material.

Key Findings

  • The REPIMPACT study is a multicenter cohort study assessing cognitive, behavioral, and neurological outcomes in adolescent soccer players.
  • Participants included male soccer players aged 14-16 and matched male noncontact sport athletes.
  • Heading exposure was quantified through structured questionnaires regarding training and match headers.
  • The study aims to evaluate changes over time in various neurological and cognitive measures.
  • Ethics approval and informed consent were obtained in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki.

Clinical Implications

Understanding the effects of RHIs can guide parental and organizational decisions regarding youth soccer engagement.

Conclusion

The REPIMPACT study addresses a critical gap in understanding the neurological effects of youth soccer.

Related Resources & Content

  1. Author(s)/Org, Source, Year -- Title
  2. Author(s)/Org, Source, Year -- Title
  3. Author(s)/Org, Source, Year -- Title
  4. Author(s)/Org, Source, Year -- Title
  5. Returning to Sports | HEADS UP | CDC
  6. US Youth Soccer Policy on Players and Playing Rules
  7. Effects of repetitive head impacts from a single season on the cognitive functioning of youth male soccer players | PLOS One
  8. The Acute Effects of Non-concussive Head Impacts on Brain Microstructure, Chemistry and Function in Male Soccer Players: A Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial | Sports Medicine - Open
  9. Soccer Heading and Elevations in p-Tau217 and S100B Biomarkers
  10. Head Acceleration Magnitude in Sport-Related Concussive Impacts: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis | Sports Medicine
  11. Returning to Sports | HEADS UP | CDC
  12. https://www.usyouthsoccer.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/160/2025/12/Policy-on-Players-and-Playing-Rules-_APP-12.05.2025.pdf
  13. Effects of repetitive head impacts from a single season on the cognitive functioning of youth male soccer players | PLOS One
  14. The Acute Effects of Non-concussive Head Impacts on Brain Microstructure, Chemistry and Function in Male Soccer Players: A Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial | Sports Medicine - Open | Springer Nature Link
  15. Soccer Heading and Elevations in p-Tau217 and S100B Biomarkers
  16. Head Acceleration Magnitude in Sport-Related Concussive Impacts: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis | Sports Medicine | Springer Nature Link

Original Source(s)

Youth Soccer Participation and Brain Health Outcomes in Adolescent Athletes

  • by Inga K. Koerte, Tim L. T. Wiegand, Elena M. Bonke, Stian K. Sandmo, David Kaufmann, Caroline Seer, Anja K. Betz, Alberto De Luca, Johanna Seitz-Holland, Marc Muehlmann, Martin Cente, Doron Elad, Thiago Santos Monteiro, Bettina Schwarz-Mörtl, Malo Gaubert, Elisabeth Kaufmann, Michaela V. Bonfert, Florian Heinen, Alexander P. Lin, Martha E. Shenton, Yorghos Tripodis, Roald Bahr, Peter Filipcik, Jolien Gooijers, Alexander Leemans, Nir Sochen, Stephan P. Swinnen, Ofer Pasternak, REPIMPACT Consortium Investigators, Sylvain Bouix, Fanny Dégeilh, Alexandra Gersing, Felicitas Heinen, Leonard Jung, Janna Buring, Paul Raffelhueschen, Paula Schorlemer, Alexandra Castro Silva, Lisa Umminger, Tars van Craenenbroeck, Sam Lauwen, Milan Laurent, Mathias Smits, Gilles Liesenborghs, Janne van Hauwenhuyse, Alana Lutz, Dogan Hasko, Tim de Keyzer, Lien Meulemans, Serafien D'Hooghe, Stijn Coenaerts, Lauren Swinnen, Inge Leunissen, Thor Einar Andersen, Erling Hisdal, Audun Hustad Torgersen, Jozef Hanes, Katarina Matyasova

  • June 22, 2026

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