High school football has to be limited to a non contact sport. Kids should not be dying

[B Calm]

41. Hard hit in soccer practice kills Blount County teen

ONEONTA, Alabama - A 17-year-old Blount County girl died Thursday night after she was struck in the chest during soccer practice at the city's recreation center fields.

The girl, whose name authorities are withholding at the request of the family, was taking part in a co-ed practice. Though the girl was a junior at Oneonta High School, Blount County Coroner John Mark Vaughn said the practice was not a school-related team or event.

The teen was running, going for the ball, as was another player, Vaughn said. "Neither saw the other and had a collision on the field,'' the coroner said. "The second player struck the girl in the sternum with his head. She collapsed immediately."

Efforts to revive her were started immediately, Vaughn said. She was taken to the hospital which was just blocks away, but was pronounced dead. The incident happened about 6 p.m.

Vaughn said there will be no autopsy performed. The manner of death has been ruled accidental, and the cause was blunt force trauma to the chest.

He said friends and family packed the hospital Thursday night. The incident was heart-wrenching for all involved, he said, including the first responders.

"They went far beyond what would be considered heroic measures. They did absolutely everything that could be done,'' he said. "It's an extremely upsetting event in a town this size.''

http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2013/10/hard_hit_in_soccer_practice_ki.html