Head injuries in youth sports are a major issue that has only in the last decade become a serious topic of research and investigation. The goal of this project was to address this head injury risk, specifically in soccer, by creating a headgear that can be worn to reduce head injuries by using both an alert system to teach proper heading techniques, along with foam padding that reduces force from the ball. The product was aimed towards youth soccer players learning to head the ball in practice, in an effort to teach them proper technique while keeping their head safe. FSR and accelerometer sensors connected to an Arduino were used to create a wired headgear insert that was programmed to produce a sound from a buzzer on the headgear, indicating completion of a successful head of a soccer ball. A padded layer of the headgear was designed using EVA and EPP foam to be worn over the wired insert to prevent head injuries in the case of unsuccessful headings using the top or side of the head. The headgear was tested and analyzed to determine the effectiveness of the sensors’ programming along with how well the headgear can reduce force.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Ghonda, Frederic
• Morton, William
• Corcoran, Brendan
• McCarthy, Tanner

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-032522-132427
• 54141

Keyword

• Headgear
• Soccer

Advisor

• Savilonis, Brian James

Year

• 2022

Date created

• 2022-03-25

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Biomedical Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering

Rights statement

• In Copyright