A pilot case crossover study of the use of padded headgear in junior Australian football.

Aim: To explore soft-shell padded headgear (HG) use, player behavior and injuries associated with HG in junior Australian football.

Methods: Prospective case-crossover with head impact measurement, injury surveillance and video review.

Results: 40 players (mean age: 12.43 years, standard deviation: 1.36) across 15 matches were observed. Frequency of head/neck (p = 0.916) or body (p = 0.883) contact events, and match incidents were similar between HG and no HG conditions. Without HG, females had higher frequency of body contacts compared with males (p = 0.015). Males sustained more body contacts with HG than without HG (p = 0.013).

Conclusion: Use of HG in junior football was not associated with injury or head contact rate. Associations between HG use and body contact may differ across sexes. (ID: ACTRN12619001165178).