May 3, 2023
By Michael Gerhardt, MD, Shoulder, Knee and Hip Specialist
Consistently ranking among the top five most popular sports for youth and adolescent athletes, soccer boasts participant rosters in the millions in the United States. Today, the American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) comprises over a million players, parents, siblings, and volunteers. With the burgeoning springtime in full swing, kids are finally able to get outdoors and kick the ball around! The sports medicine team at Cedars-Sinai Kerlan-Jobe Institute, in partnership with AYSO, has important information for athletes and their parents on ways to play it safe – so that soccer can remain a fun and healthy athletic activity for young people, regardless of their performance level or time of year.
How to Avoid “Bending” Like Beckham
While soccer does not require the same protective equipment as American football, that does not mean it is a game devoid of physicality and potential injury. From knee injuries to shin splints, the most common soccer-related musculoskeletal injuries include:
- Ankle sprains: A sprain occurs when the ligaments that support the ankle are stretched or torn. The symptoms of an ankle sprain include pain, swelling, and bruising around the injured ankle and foot.
- Knee injuries are also common in youth soccer and may include:
- Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears – The ACL is a ligament that helps to stabilize the knee joint.
- Meniscus tears – The meniscus is a piece of cartilage that acts as a cushion between the knee joint bones.
- Patellar tendonitis – an inflammation of the tendon that connects the kneecap to the shinbone.
- Shin splints: Caused by inflammation of the muscles and tendons in the shinbone and can cause debilitating pain in the front part of the lower leg.
- Concussion: Traumatic brain injury which can be the result of “heading” of the soccer ball. Players under age 11 are discouraged to head the ball.
An Ounce of Prevention is Still Worth a Pound of Cure
While orthopedic injuries are as common in soccer players as they are in athletes who play other sports that involve dynamic body movements at a high rate of speed, there is plenty of safeguarding that parents and coaches can provide to help reduce injury risk for athletes at every age and level of soccer play.
First and foremost, anyone who plays soccer should invest in adequately fitted cleats and shin guards. Though these may seem like no-brainer tips to some, you might be surprised at the number of orthopedic injuries that occur in athletes because of not wearing the proper safety gear for the sport.
Additionally, incorporating an ACL injury prevention warm-up protocol into practices is imperative. FIFA 11+ is the most widely used program for soccer injury prevention and it was developed by some of our doctors in collaboration with a multidisciplinary group of experts. This program has been shown to greatly reduce the risk of injury in all soccer players!
Coach ‘Em Up’
Young soccer players should be instructed early on to always listen to their coaches. The coaches are trained in proper safety procedures for the sport and can be an extra set of eyes and ears for an athlete on the field. The coach can increase their players’ awareness of their surroundings – watching out for other players, the ball, and other potential health hazards. Additionally, the coach instructs the player on proper warm-up and cool-down techniques before and after games. These are two important aspects of gameplay that some athletes may take for granted but can make a significant difference in ensuring the body is well-prepared for the strenuous exertion required in soccer.
Soccer’s Thirst Quencher
While it may not seem like a strategy for orthopedic injury prevention, proper hydration makes a safety difference for young soccer players. Dehydration causes the muscles and ligaments in the body to be less agile, which increases the risk of injury. Athletes should always drink plenty of water before, during, and after games and practices to ensure they are well-hydrated.
By following these safety tips, parents can help ensure that their children have a safe and enjoyable experience playing soccer.
Sources:
https://orthokids.org/sports-injury-prevention/soccer-injuries/
https://orthokids.org/sports-injury-prevention/soccer-injuries/
