The large number of people playing soccer means that the absolute number of injuries will also be great. Soccer is a contact sport that involves some risk. A competitive soccer player is required to master many different athletic skills, yet soccer players use little in the way of body protection. Despite this lack of personal protective equipment, however, the injuries in soccer are generally minor.
The medical literature on pediatric soccer injuries covers groups of children who play at a variety of levels, have different abilities, and follow diverse training schedules. The overall injury rate is estimated to be between 0.5 and 29.9 injuries per 1000 hours of playing time.1 This figure is highest during competitive play.1-7
TYPICAL INJURIES
It is not surprising to find that the majority of soccer-related injuries are to the lower extremity, with around 70% of injuries confined to this location.1,4,5,7 Girls tend to suffer trauma to the knee more commonly than the ankle, whereas the reverse is true for boys.1,3,4,7,9
Approximately 15% to 20% of injuries relate to the upper limbs.1,2,4,5,8,10 These are more prevalent in the younger age groups2,5,10,11 and among goalkeepers.2,9 Head and face wounds are responsible for 5% to 10% of injuries, and these are more likely to be seen in male than female players.7,11,12 Spinal trauma is, thankfully, rare in soccer players, representing less than 5% of all injuries.1,4
Most soccer-related injuries in children will be acute. Few injuries require medical attention, and less than 2% of children will need admission to hospital.11 Over 75% of injuries consist of contusions, abrasions, and blisters (23.5% to 47%);2,4,6,8,9,11 muscle strains (19% to 31.8%);1,2,4,6 and ligament sprains (20% to 35.9%) (Figure 1).1,2,4,6,8
