With the World Cup coming up, and student athletes across the country currently taking part in practices and games, this is the perfect time to take a look at how best to avoid injuries on the soccer field. There are certain risks inherent to the sport that students, parents, and coaching staff need to watch out for and take steps to circumvent. Thankfully, a new report highlights some of the ways that fitness can be improved while injuries can simultaneously be kept at bay.
Much like other sports, proper injury avoidance during soccer will hinge on getting the body ready for what a game or a practice is going to ask of it. You need to stretch for a solid ten or 15 minutes prior to any intense activity, and that stretching should account for all muscle sets so that you’ll be prepared for all possible movements. You also have to supplement this stretching with a concerted warmup that gets your heart pumping. A light jog helps in this regard.
The report linked to above also highlights just how crucial it is to acquire an adequate amount of water prior to and during a game. It’s going to get warmer and warmer as the spring progresses, and that heat can easily lead to dehydration. Players should have an ample supply of water on hand so that they’re able to give their bodies the energy needed to take part in athletic functions without having to worry about sustaining serious health dangers.
Perhaps the biggest injury risk that all persons involved should strive to avoid is that of an ACL injury. Soccer is a sport where persons are running at high speeds and then suddenly stopping on a dime, pivoting to go in another direction, or planting hard to set up a kick. Although cleats should be able to mitigate some risks, the threat of an ACL tear is always going to exist.
A coach needs to emphasize strengthening exercises that can protect soccer players from this debilitating injury. The knee needs to be as strong as it could possibly be. Athletes must be taught how to safely plant, pivot, and speed up and slow down. Rather than coming to sudden stops, it’s best to let momentum do most of the work if at all possible. This is difficult when the movement of the ball prompts immediate direction, but it should still be stressed nonetheless. Attention should also be paid to landing in a manner that is not knock-kneed.
There are many more ways to avoid soccer injuries, so make sure to follow the link up above for more information.
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