The Nitty Gritty to Soccer Safety

Since football is one of the most favorite sports on earth, many children and adults are attracted to participate in playing it on a daily basis. Because of this wide-spread popularity, soccer injuries are very common.

With more than 80,000 adults and children visiting emergency rooms each year as a result of soccer, it’s important to know the safety rules. When playing and watching, there are a few things you should always be aware of so that you and your teammates or family members don’t get hurt playing or watching. There are several categories of safety regulations that you should be aware of. These include the following:

on field security
target security
stadium security
Device
weather protection
Miscellaneous Accessories

on field security

Of all the categories, on-field safety is one that players are constantly aware of. This is where most children and adults get injured. Whether it’s a sprained ankle from tripping over a ball, collisions and other accidents, there are many things you can do to prevent injury. Sprained ankles are one of the most common soccer injuries, as there is a lot of leg work involved.

These injuries can be avoided by taking a little care when passing or receiving the ball, as well as caution when running down the field. Proper foot position when handling the ball is one of the most effective ways to prevent this type of injury. Unfortunately, accidents will happen, no matter how careful you are. By being diligent, you can ensure that any injuries you suffer are minor and should not interfere with future play. The main rule of preventing injuries on the field is to always be alert. Know where the ball is and know who is around you.

target security

Whether you are a goalkeeper, or a defensive player, goals can sometimes be a threat to defence. In most cases, collisions with the goal or goalkeeper are due to a lack of observation. Whether you stumble and fall into the goal post, or accidentally bump into the goalkeeper, you need to make sure you’re always looking where you’re going to score. Not only can this action lead to injury, but it can also give you cards that could potentially take you out of the game.

Another point to consider when shopping for 8 x 24 soccer goals is to consider goals with circular posts rather than square posts. When hitting a post, your goal is more likely to skim the post and avoid serious injury.

stadium security

For parents, guardians and friends, here are some stadium safety tips that often get overlooked when it comes to football safety. Sometimes a player may lose control of the soccer ball, and it enters the stands where you are watching the game. Injuries caused by hitting the ball, or any other piece of equipment that may be in your way, are easily preventable by making sure that you pay attention at all times.

Running from the stands or through a player’s area can be dangerous to you and others. As a rule of thumb, common sense is the best protection you have. If it involves doing something that could cause harm to you or others, such as walking behind bleachers, climbing on people and high benches, it should be avoided for your sake and for others.

Device

Without soccer safety equipment, all the rules of the game would be ineffective. Shin guards, cleats, jerseys and properly fitting shorts and socks all work together to ensure that every player can enjoy the sport without a high risk of injury. Shin guards are used to protect the lower part of the shin from injury or breaks, where cleats and the soccer ball are most likely to hit you. Without these, such as the Lotto Shin Guard, you put yourself at higher risk.

Wearing the proper pair of cleats designed by Nike gives you more grip on the turf. This grip helps prevent sprains and fractures in the ankles. These shoes also give your feet ample protection from the impact of other pair of cleats and soccer ball.

Proper fitting clothing, ranging from jerseys, shorts and socks, contribute to player comfort. This is important, as distraction from play can result in injury to you and others. It is always recommended to wear your appropriate jersey for practice or games. Specially designed jersey and shorts designed to handle the rigors of soccer. The fabric is specially designed to stand up against grass stains as well as being comfortable.

weather

One aspect of soccer safety that many players and parents forget about is weather conditions. Playing in the rain can be a fun, invigorating experience that will be treasured by players for years to come. Despite this, playing in muddy conditions is dangerous. Slipping and sliding takes a great deal of the enjoyment out of playing soccer in the rain, leaving room for a variety of injuries. If you choose to play soccer in the rain, make sure you take all precautions possible, from wearing cleats, guards, and your protective gear.

When a full storm with thunder and lightning occurs, the game must be ended immediately. A football field in the middle of a lightning storm is the worst place to be, and parents as well as players have been killed or maimed by lightning. If lightning strikes and the referee does not end play, you should still leave the field as soon as possible.

Miscellaneous Accessories

Before you play football, you need to make sure that you are not wearing miscellaneous accessories like earrings, anklets and other jewelry that can break or cause damage. Earrings are especially prone to rupture from the earlobe when contacted by a soccer ball. By removing these pieces of jewelry and other items of this nature, you can help protect yourself from injury that could be disfiguring. If you are considering getting a piercing and you play football, you may want to plan to get your piercing done after the football season is over.

If you keep all of these things in mind when playing or watching a soccer game, you should be able to enjoy the game with less risk of injury.