Soccer Safety Tips

Soccer is an exciting, fast-paced game that's lots of fun to play. It's easy to learn and a great source of exercise. But soccer is a contact sport, and injuries can happen.

To keep things as safe as possible while playing soccer, follow these safety tips.

Staying Safe & Preventing Injuries

What Soccer Safety Gear Do I Need?

Safe soccer gear includes:

Soccer Shoes

These usually have molded cleats (spikes on the soles) so are often just called “cleats.” Soccer shoes also might have ribbed soles. These features help prevent slipping. Make sure the shoes fit properly and are laced up tightly each time you play.

Shin Guards

Shin guards should mold to the shin, start just below the knee, and fit snugly around the ankle. They help prevent injuries to the shinbone. Take your soccer socks and cleats with you when you buy shin guards to make sure they all fit together properly.

Other Gear

A mouth guard protects your teeth, lips, cheeks, and tongue. If you are a goalie, make sure to wear long-sleeved shirts, pants, or shorts with padding, and special goalie gloves to protect your hands while stopping shots.

How Can I Stay Safe While Playing Soccer?

Before starting the season, players should get a sports physical. Your doctor can check for any health problems and talk to you about sports safety. Most schools won't let athletes play unless they've had a sports physical during the past year. And being in good shape can help you avoid injuries.

Getting Ready to Play

Before a practice or games, players should:

• Check the field to make sure there are no holes or other obstacles, including debris and broken glass. Store extra balls and equipment well off to the sides of the field.
• Check the goals at each end of the field to make sure they're safe. Goals should be attached to the ground, and goal posts should be well padded.
• If the field is wet, use synthetic, nonabsorbent balls. Leather balls (which are not as common these days) can become waterlogged and very heavy, increasing the risk of injury. For really strong water resistance, look for a soccer ball that is “seamless” (which means it has thermal bonding to keep water out).
• Warm up and stretch.
• Remove any piercings or jewelry.

Avoiding Injuries

During games, players should:

• Follow soccer rules and use proper techniques. Follow the league rules about hitting the ball with your head (“heading the ball”) in games and in practice. Kids who are in a U.S. youth soccer league and are 10 years old and younger shouldn't hit the ball with their heads  . Heading the ball can lead to a concussion and/or neck injury.
• Stop playing if you feel pain or get hurt, and get checked by an athletic trainer, a coach, a doctor, or a nurse before going back on the field.
• Stay hydrated, particularly on hot, sunny days, by drinking plenty of liquids before, during, and after games and practices.

What Else Should I Know?

Follow your coach's guidelines for safe, fair play at practices and games. You should also:

• Be respectful of the referees and not argue with their calls.
• Stay calm if an opposing player collides with you or does something you disagree with. Do not take it personally or start a fight — let the referees handle it.
• It can help to play different sports throughout the year to prevent repetitive stress injuries (overuse injuries). These injuries happen when someone trains too much or makes the same motions over and over.

Safety in Other Sports

Safety matters whether you're playing soccer or another game. To help prevent injuries in other sports, check out these articles:

• Baseball Safety Tips
• Football Safety Tips
• Hockey Safety Tips
• Lacrosse Safety Tips
• Tennis Safety Tips