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Soccer Offers More than a Kick
Soccer is the most popular sport around the globe. Because of its minimal equipment requirement (a
ball), children all over the world are playing it in
streets, villages, and if they’re lucky—on a field. American
interest is picking up, and over 18 million children are
participating.
According to Dr. Joe Chorley, attending
physician at the Texas Children’s Hospital Adolescent and
Sports Medicine Clinic, children can benefit greatly from
soccer. Here’s why:
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The American Association
of Orthopedic Surgeons offers the following tips for
avoiding injuries:
1. Take time to
warm-up and stretch, especially the hips, knees,
thighs and calves.
2. Always wear shin guards.
3. Wear shoes with molded cleats or ribbed
soles, not cleats that are screwed into the soles.
(Only use screw-in when more traction is needed, like
on a
wet field.)
4. Don't crawl or sit on the goal or hang
from the net.
5. Pad or properly secure goal posts.
6. Keep playing
fields in good condition.
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Anyone is eligible. Unlike most sports, soccer
players come in all sizes and shapes. You don’t have to be
tall, lean, muscular or bulky.
Teamwork is required. Soccer is truly a team sport.
Players learn to communicate and work together, gaining
valuable relational skills and building self esteem.
Co-ed is cool. Young soccer teams usually include
both boys and girl. This teaches children respect for the
opposite sex.
There’s no age requirement. Children can get involved
in soccer at any age, and they can continue the sport
through adulthood. Parents can even participate.
It’s excellent exercise. With the constant starting,
stopping and turning, soccer provides all the elements of a
great interval workout. It builds stamina and muscle mass
while increasing flexibility, coordination and balance.
Play at any level. Soccer offers many levels of
competition. From YMCA to elite club teams, there’s an
option for everyone. Camps, clinics and workshops also offer
skill development.
It’s a mental game. Unlike some sports where the game
continually stops for coach direction, soccer moves fast and
requires quick thinking. This helps develop critical
thinking and problem solving skills.
It’s Not Without Risk
Every sport has its risk of injuries, and soccer is no
exception. Staying in shape, wearing shin guards and following proper safety
rules can keep injuries at bay, but some minor cuts and
bruises are bound
to occur. Here are some other, more serious injuries to
watch out for:
Ankle sprain. Many athletes or parents may be tempted
to overlook an ankle injury. Dr. Chorley cautions,
“Ankle sprains account for more participation time lost than
any other injury. If they are not properly rehabilitated,
the athlete will be susceptible to future injury. Sprains
need to be addressed promptly; the rehab process is quite
simple.”
ACL tear. Women are especially prone to ACL injury
while jumping or pivoting, because their hip and thigh
structure inherently put more pressure on the knee.
Sportsmetrics™ has developed a training program for female
athletes to teach proper technique and avoid ACL injury. For
more information on these programs, visit the
sportsmetrics Web
page.
Concussion. Second to football, the most
sports-related concussions we see are from soccer, says Dr.
Chorley. "Concussions aren’t
always caused by a direct blow to the head. Frequently, they
result from the head being whipped around or jolted due to
subsequent bodily impact,” he explains.
Proper heading technique is
important in avoiding concussions—children under 10 are
discouraged from heading the ball. Dr. Chorley cautions, “A
head injury always requires physician evaluation. If there
are no symptoms, visit your regular doctor within a couple
of days. But, if symptoms are present and getting worse
(confusion, loss of consciousness, blurred vision,
persistent headache, decreasing mental function or fatigue) go
to the emergency room immediately.”
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