Abby Wambach Monitors Her Head Hits Leading to World Cup

Next summer, the U.S. women’s national soccer team will take the international stage to compete for a World Cup title. And to ensure that the team has its greatest chance of winning in Canada, all-time goal scorer Abby Wambach is already preparing her head for play. 

Wambach, known for her timely headers and dominant aerial game, will be wearing a Triax SIM-P(Smart Impact Monitor) headband during her training leading up to competition. The headband has a sensor that counts and scores each head impact while a player is on the field, providing immediate information to minimize the potential risk of concussions. 

The Triax technology is the first of its kind to earn hit-count certification by the Sports Legacy Institute, a non-profit organization devoted to solving the concussion crisis. The Triax devices are a new advancement in hopes of supporting long-term player health and safety, complete with training and educational initiatives.

“For me, information is gold” Wambach says. “The more information I have the better I can play and the more prepared I can be, especially for the World Cup next summer.”

Early in her career, the two-time Olympic gold medalist was not taught the risk and dangers of head injury. Though she has only suffered one concussion in her career, she said she has felt an added level of preparation and security while wearing the device. Wambach is now teaming with Triax to raise awareness of the issue and keep all athletes as safe as possible. 

“This technology is also great because it appeals to people that aren’t on a soccer field,” Wambach says. “It appeals to cheerleaders, football players, it keeps kids safer, and it keeps pro athletes like myself safer. It’s another useful and helpful tool for anyone who wants to engage in any impact sport.” 

(Continue Reading at Sports Illustrated Kids)