10 Tips: Children/Adolescents/Soccer/Accident prevention

October 16, 2009

Posted in Outdoor Recreation, Prevention, Sun
Tags: contact sport, Dehydration, growth plates, head injuries, head the ball, headgear, heading, melanin, mouth guards, muscle strengthening, reduce injuries, soccer, soccer coach, soccer exercises, soccer goal frames, soccer injuries, soccer kids, soccer players, soccer safety, soccer toddlers, soccer-related injuries, soccer-related issues, sports drinks, Sunscreen, tip-resistant goals, warm-ups

Soccer is a relatively safe sport says the American Journal of Sports Medicine. Yet more than 100,000 children and adolescents are treated in emergency rooms each year, and more are treated elsewhere, for soccer-related issues. Studies of these injuries by sports physicians and others have led to the following recommendations to make it an even safer sport.  

1. Soccer is a contact sport, a fact often overlooked. Collisions and falls are inevitable. Participants, especially the younger players, should be matched not only by age but also by height and weight, when possible. There is as yet no consensus regarding the effectiveness of the use of headgear, mouth guards and protective eyewear; studies are underway.

2. Experienced coaches help reduce injuries. Ideally, coaches, parents and children should meet long before the season starts. Coaches should outline stretching and muscle strengthening exercises appropriate for children’s age.  Parents should encourage children to do the exercises as “homework”, not only during pre-game warm-ups.  Cold muscles are more prone to injury.  Coaches should also be knowledgeable regarding equipment, first aid, and soccer-related injuries, have contingency plans for emergencies, and have a sensible philosophy about the importance of winning games.

3. Promptly investigate injuries around joints. The growth plates of the long bones of the arms and legs are located at the wrists, elbows, knees and ankles, areas prone to injury.  Injuries of the plates may interfere with the proper growth of these bones.

4. Check field conditions. Playing surface should be smooth. Holes and other irregularities under the grass are difficult to see unless specifically looked for.   Wet grass is slippery and increases chances of falls. Frozen fields also increase the chances of injuries.

5. Encourage children to drink liquids. Thirst is a slow indicator of dehydration. Even mild dehydration slows cognitive thinking and reaction time. For amateur soccer players, sports drinks are not essential. Water and juices are fine. Bathroom facilities should be available nearby.   

6. Protect children from the sun. Soccer players rarely wear hats and few use sunscreens. Children’s skin contains less melanin than that of adults. Melanin is   the substance that protects against sun damage. Sun-related skin damage is cumulative over a lifetime. About 80 percent of the damage occurs in the first 18 years of life. Appropriate sunscreens correctly applied reduce that risk.  See http://kidstraveldoc.com/sun.php.

7. Young players should be removed from play even after minor injuries. The extent of injuries may not be immediately apparent. Also, with head injuries, for example, a second injury, even if both first and second ones are relatively minor, cause cumulative damage, one and one can equal three or more. Expert opinion may be required as to when a child should play again.

8. Young children should not “head” the ball.  Children should be at least 12 years of age to hit the ball with their heads; some experts think “heading” is only for adult players (if then). Younger children have thinner skulls and underdeveloped neck muscles, increasing the risk of serious injury.

9. Instruct players on goal frame hazards. In the past 30 years, there have been 34 deaths and 51 known serious injuries attributed to soccer goal frames, says the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Most goals are movable (not secured into the ground), weigh up to 400 pounds, and can tip over, causing head and other injuries. Goals should be anchored to the ground and re-anchored after being moved or stored. Long term solutions include designing tip-resistant goals built out of lighter materials. Proper padding of goals is essential.  Children should never climb or hang on the frames.

10. Soccer is safe for toddlers.

Many programs offer soccer for two- and- three year olds. This age group sees extremely low injury rates.  And soccer with its simple rules and minimal equipment, is an ideal activity to introduce young children to socialization, exercising, and organized sports. 

Soccer should be safe for spectators, too - the family and friends who come to watch the games.  Make sure that young children do not wander off while you cheer for your favorite player. And non-players also need to be protected from the sun, the cold, and should be offered frequent drinks.

Posted in Outdoor Recreation, Prevention, Sun
Tags: contact sport, Dehydration, growth plates, head injuries, head the ball, headgear, heading, melanin, mouth guards, muscle strengthening, reduce injuries, soccer, soccer coach, soccer exercises, soccer goal frames, soccer injuries, soccer kids, soccer players, soccer safety, soccer toddlers, soccer-related injuries, soccer-related issues, sports drinks, Sunscreen, tip-resistant goals, warm-ups