Preventing Soccer Injuries

If your children are playing soccer, as millions of other kids are doing nationwide, then you need the latest tips on keeping them safe on the field. Shin guards, for example, can reduce the risk for broken or bruised legs.

Each year, emergency rooms treat nearly 80,000 children younger than 15 for soccer-related injuries, according to federal government statistics.

"Many injuries can be prevented by proper conditioning and training, proper equipment, field maintenance and sportsmanlike conduct," says John Sarwark, M.D., professor of orthopedic surgery at Northwestern University. Dr. Sarwark and Vinny Comiskey, a certified trainer with the U.S. Olympic Training Center, offer the following tips:

Players must wear shin guards

They are the only mandated protective equipment. For the best protection, shin guards should cover the entire shin, have a strap for children to fasten under their feet and have a plastic outside cover.

Goalies should wear gloves, elbow pads and knee pads

Gloves should be made of a durable material, such as leather. They should have a Velcro strap around the wrist to prevent them from sliding around on the hand. They should have a Velcro strap around the wrist to prevent them from sliding around on the hand.

Mouth guards and safety glasses a must

All players should wear form-fitted mouth guards and shatter-proof glasses or safety goggles.

Shoes should have molded cleats or a ribbed sole

Screw-in plastic cleats should be worn only on wet or long grass. Both metal and plastic cleats can cut another player's skin during a kick.

The right ball can prevent head injuries

Leather balls can become heavy when wet. Use synthetic, nonabsorbent balls on wet fields.

Stay off the goals

Don't let people crawl or sit on goals or hang from nets. Collapsing goals have killed players and small children.

Anchor the goals

Soccer goals should be anchored to the ground, using anchors flush with the ground and clearly visible; never use net pegs as anchors. Goal posts and cross-bars should ideally have four inches of padding.

A smooth surface

The playing surface should have all holes filled in, bare spots reseeded and debris removed.

Rest is a must

Parents should regulate their children's sporting activities so their muscles can rest between events.