When your young ones put on their soccer uniforms, how do you feel? When I beheld my kids in their new soccer jerseys for the first time, I experienced a great swelling in my breast. So many reasons to be proud. My child is old enough to get involved in an activity. My child wants to join in. My child will gain a skill that will keep her active and fit throughout her life. My child will expand her circle of friends. But there’s another swelling: the fear and anxiety I feel about her precious, perfect little body. Will she get hurt? What kinds of things can happen to her? How can she gain all of the benefits of game she loves with friends she loves without breaking, straining, or tearing her bones, muscles, and ligaments?
The first safety issue is the playing field itself and the equipment. Start with the field itself. Ensure that the grass is in good shape and doesn’t disguise any holes in the ground. An even playing surface can prevent trips and stumbles and the ankle injuries that accompany them. The thing to consider is the soccer goals. Make sure that they are strong and properly padded. Also, instruct the children not to climb or hang on the goals. Not only can they fall off the goals, but the goals could also tip over onto the children. Especially with the younger children, this is a rule that will have to be enforced frequently until it is ingrained in their heads. (You know the child-like love of climbing.) As for the ball, synthetic balls are better than leather ones because leather balls tend to absorb water when they are wet and become heavy. A heavy ball can lead to injuries.
Another side of the equipment is the equipment worn by the players, namely the shoes and shin guards. You may think this would go without saying because all players wear soccer shoes and shin guards. However, it is important to have the right personal equipment. With the expense of purchasing these items, you probably want to hand down one child’s equipment down to the next child when they are outgrown by the first. This scheme makes perfect sense as long as you are conscientious about ensuring that the hand-me-downs fit properly. A proper fit prevents the shoes or pads from shifting as the child runs and stops suddenly. Also, different shoe types may be needed for different field conditions.
Injury prevention is also a personal matter, a matter of taking care of your body. And care of the body starts long before the beginning of soccer season. Start with a good diet. Good nutrition is particularly important for young soccer players because their bodies are still developing. Good nutrition is also an easy answer. It’s merely a matter of eating a good variety of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. The carbohydrate-based foods should be made up of a wide variety of fruits and vegetables.
