| Exposure to potential soccer injury is a natural part | | | | infection, rashes and other skin conditions. Any |
| of competition among youth soccer players. Soccer is | | | | earrings, nose studs and other piercing should be |
| not considered a contact sport; however there is a | | | | removed from the player before training or games. |
| lot of physical interaction and some of it is | | | | The same goes for bracelets, necklaces and |
| uncontrollable. | | | | watches. Laces must be tied up! |
| The simplest way to treat a soccer injury is to | | | | Furthermore players with vision problems must wear |
| prevent it from occurring in the first place. Not all | | | | sport glasses or contacts! |
| injuries are preventable; however, the majority of | | | | 3. Conditioning |
| soccer injuries are preventable. Early recognition of | | | | Conditioning must include the following: strength, |
| the signs and symptoms of injuries helps to prevent | | | | dynamic flexibility, endurance, balance and |
| a minor injury from becoming a major injury. | | | | coordination. |
| Soccer injury prevention starts before the soccer | | | | Strength: Soccer specific strength is necessary to |
| player begins training and playing. | | | | prevent injury. Strength training for soccer is both |
| Here are the three strategies to decrease the likely | | | | sport and position specific. Soccer players need to |
| hood of a soccer injury | | | | focus on building strength for the lower body. |
| 1. Medicals | | | | Athletes need to have a good base of strength to |
| A young soccer player must be declared physically fit | | | | be able to develop power, strength and endurance. |
| to participate. A preseason Medical screens the | | | | They need to have good "glute" strength for power |
| athlete for potential problems that may predispose | | | | and speed. |
| them to injury. This includes sport specific stress | | | | Dynamic Flexibility: Athletes with active limited range |
| testing. A soccer players' stress is different from a | | | | of motion predispose themselves to injury by moving |
| swimmers'. | | | | their muscles through an untrained range of motion. |
| A preseason check up alerts the person in charge of | | | | Muscle strains, ligament sprains and inadequate |
| medical care about any potential problems the soccer | | | | performance result. It is important for athletes to |
| player might have. This would include the following: | | | | have functional range of motion for muscles in the |
| asthma, diabetes, heart (heart murmur), allergies | | | | groin area, the hamstrings, quads and calf muscles. |
| (anaphylactic shock), previous concussion(s), | | | | Endurance: Sport and position specific muscular and |
| reconstructive surgery and previous injuries. | | | | cardio-respiratory endurance allows the youth soccer |
| The coaches and trainers of the soccer team must | | | | player to compete at their highest level from |
| be aware of this information so that they may | | | | beginning to end. A tired athlete is predisposed to |
| respond in an appropriate manner to a medical | | | | injury because they have difficulty maintaining proper |
| emergency. | | | | technique, balance and coordination at a peak level |
| 2. Equipment | | | | and therefore falter. |
| All equipment must fit properly. This is significant with | | | | Balance: Body awareness and balance are learned |
| shin pads. Shin pads should be worn in both practice | | | | skills. This occurs with practice and ties in with |
| and in games. Proper footwear is essential to prevent | | | | coordination. This becomes an unconscious effort |
| injuries. Cleats worn indoors or on turf will be | | | | after a period of time. |
| different than those worn on grass fields. Equipment | | | | Coordination:- Soccer players who do not have skill |
| that does not fit properly does not protect the | | | | and coordination for soccer predispose themselves to |
| soccer player adequately and may cause injury to | | | | injury by attempting drills and activities that they are |
| another athlete. | | | | not prepared for. It is important for the young |
| All equipment must be checked and maintained | | | | soccer player to be technically strong with his/her |
| properly on a regular basis. Equipment must be kept | | | | skills. |
| clean and sanitary. Dirty equipment may cause | | | | |