Injuries in Youth Soccer

Abstract

Injury rates in youth soccer, known as football outside the United States, are higher than in many other contact/collision sports and have greater relative numbers in younger, preadolescent players. With regard to musculoskeletal injuries, young females tend to suffer more knee injuries, and young males suffer more ankle injuries. Concussions are fairly prevalent in soccer as a result of contact/collision rather than purposeful attempts at heading the ball. Appropriate rule enforcement and emphasis on safe play can reduce the risk of soccerrelated injuries. This report serves as a basis for encouraging safe participation in soccer for children and adolescents. Pediatrics 2010; 125:410-414 INTRODUCTIONSoccer (known as football outside the United States) is one of the most popular team sports in the world and continues to provide healthy exercise for many young people. Participation in soccer is an effective way for children to increase their level of physical activity and fitness, because it requires intensive physical effort over an extended period of time through practice and games. 1 In the United States, an estimated 15.5 million 2 people participate in soccer. Two national youth organizations have registered 650 000 3 and 3.2 million 4 participants younger than 19 years, with a 7% increase in female adolescent players from 2001 to 2007. 2 More than 700 000 girls and boys played soccer in US high schools in 2008 -2009, 5 placing soccer among the top sports for increased participation. 5 With this growing participation comes a greater number of injuries, leading to an increasing prevalence of soccer-related cases presenting to the pediatrician. INJURY RISKSoccer has a higher injury rate than many contact/collision sports such as field hockey, rugby, basketball, and football, although in 1 community study of 7-to 13 year-old players, football did have a higher percentage of serious injuries and higher frequency of injury per team per season. 6,7 The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), through its National Electronic Injury Surveillance System, estimated that there were 186 544 soccer-related injuries in 2006. 8 Approximately 80% of these injuries affected participants younger than 24 years, and approximately 44% occurred in participants younger than 15 years. It is unfortunate that there is a wide variation in the reported incidence of soccer injuries as a result of study differences in factors such as level of competition, intensity of exposure, definition, classifications, and reporting of injuries. Because of difficulties with interstudy com-

Sport-Related Concussion in Children and Adolescents

“…125 Prospective data are not currently sufficient to support recommending universal use of headgear in soccer. 126 Heading the ball in soccer is felt to be safe, if performed properly. 126 Avoiding heading does not prevent concussions.…”

“…126 Heading the ball in soccer is felt to be safe, if performed properly. 126 Avoiding heading does not prevent concussions. 126 …”

Incidence, Epidemiology and Etiology of Injuries, in a Spanish Amateur Football Club

“…This may be due, in general terms, to the probable relationship between the older age group and higher team category, increasing the possibility of injury, as shown in other studies (8). In younger ages, there is a higher degree of emphasis on the development of preventive measures, such as the adequate observance of footballing rules and fair play, to reduce injury levels and to promote safe footballing, for children and teenagers (3).…”

“…Training and regular football playing have shown cardiovascular and musculoskeletal benefits (2,3). However, as a physical contact sport, it associates injury risks.…”

“…However, as a physical contact sport, it associates injury risks. Due to the high level of participation, the prevalence of injuries in young players is ever increasing (3)(4)(5) and represents an important financial impact on public health services (6). For this reason, efforts are required to prevent and control these injuries, in particular those demonstrating a possible long-term nature (6, 7).…”