Play safe
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Play Safe
Soccer is the most popular sport in the world for good reason. It's easy to learn at a young age and a great source of exercise. Plus, it's an exciting, fast-paced game that's lots of fun to play.
But soccer is a contact sport, and injuries are bound to happen. Collisions with other players can cause bruises and even concussions. All the running involved in a soccer game can lead to muscle pulls and strains, and getting hit with a ball or improperly heading one can cause head or neck injuries.
To learn how to keep things as safe as possible while playing soccer, follow these safety tips.
Why Is Soccer Safety Important?
With so many people playing soccer these days, it's only natural that some will end up getting hurt. Fortunately, most soccer injuries are minor, but serious injuries such as broken bones and concussions do happen.
Ankle sprains are the most common soccer injury; other frequent injuries include hamstring pulls or tears, groin pulls, muscle cramps, shin splints, concussions, and pulled or strained calf muscles. In addition, players can get repetitive-stress injuries (RSIs) such as tendonitis or stress fractures from playing too much or playing through pain.
Gear Guidelines
Soccer doesn't require a lot of gear for each player other than shin guards and cleats, but it's a good idea to give some thought to all of these important pieces of equipment before you play:
Soccer cleats.
Choose a pair of shoes with molded cleats or ribbed soles. Shoes with screw-in cleats may carry a higher risk of injury, so only use them when you need extra traction, such as on a wet field or a field with tall grass. Make sure your cleats fit properly and are laced up tightly each time you play.
Shin guards
If soccer players get lower leg injuries, it's usually because they weren't protected with adequate shin guards. A good shin guard will mold to the shin, end just below the knee, and fit snugly around the ankle bone. Bring your soccer socks and cleats with you when you buy shin guards to be sure that they'll fit properly.
Soccer socks.
Soccer socks. These are meant to hold shin guards securely in place and should be worn anytime you practice or play.
Goalies
Goalies will want to wear long-sleeved shirts and specialized goalie gloves to protect their hands while stopping shots.
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