Anchor the goal posts. According to the CPSC, at least 29 fatalities and 49 major injuries during the period 1979 to 2004 have been linked to unanchored or portable soccer goals. The CPSC recommends that all movable soccer goals be anchored firmly in place at all times. For more information on anchoring goal posts, click here
Reduce orofacial injuries by using mouth guards. As many as 30% of all soccer injuries are to the orofacial region, including tooth avulsions, tooth fractures, concussions, and oral lacerations. Many of such injuries could have been prevented had the player worn a mouth guard.
Yet only about 7% of youth soccer players wear mouth guards all or most
of the time, and few state interscholastic athletic associations
mandate their use. Both the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and
American Dental Association recommend a sports mouth guard for soccer.
Take steps to reduce the risk of concussions and other traumatic brain injuries. Two recent studies
suggest that years of heading a soccer ball may result in the short
term in weaker mental performance, including a decline in cognitive
function, difficulty in verbal learning, planning, and maintaining
attention; and reduced information processing speed. The long-term
effects of heading, however, are less clear. The studies have led some
groups, including the National Soccer Coaches Association of America to
recommend that its members not stress heading drills among children 10
or younger. Players, coaches, parents, referees, and health
professionals need to be educated about the injury potential from
heading a soccer ball; rules on the distance of players from the ball
on restarts (such as free and corner kicks) need to be strictly
enforced; and balls should be of the size and weight appropriate for
the players' age and be made of synthetic, nonabsorbent materials when
games are played on wet fields (because leather balls, when wet, become
heavy and water-logged, increasing the risk of injury).
Reducing overuse injuries by setting participation limits. Nearly half of all of the sports injuries children suffer each year are overuse injuries.
There are a number of commonsense steps parents can take to reduce the
risk of overuse injuries. First, before letting a child play on two or
three soccer teams at the same time, consider that all the extra wear
and tear on her body may lead to overuse injuries years later. Second,
set limits. A child is far less likely to suffer an overuse injury if
he takes off at least three months a year from sports, and practices
and plays soccer no more than twelve hours per week.
Be prepared for medical emergencies. A properly stocked first-aid kit should be available at all soccer practices and games, youth sports coaches should receive training in first-aid and an emergency medical plan should be in place.
