My husband and my son's coaches proudly boast about my 8 year-old's beginning of cauliflower ear. Mom's not so sure... He wears his headgear, but it is actually painful and tender. He had it once earlier this year but it went away with a little TLC. I don't want to start draining it so early because I know that it would continue to require such. Some anti-inflammatories and some ice should do the trick for now...