If you’ve been inspired by the World Cup to take up the game of soccer yourself, then you have to make sure you’re taking steps to reduce your exposure to injury. A recent report out of New Zealand offers some advice on doing so.
The first thing to remember is that you can’t just head out on the field and start playing. To do so is to invite an injury to befall you. If you’ve been watching the World Cup, you know that people run up and down the field of play seemingly nonstop. That kind of thing takes a lot of conditioning.
If you want to get the most out of your game, make sure you’re supplementing time on the field with other types of training. A regular cardio workout is absolutely essential. Then, once you get ready to play a game, make sure to stretch out sufficiently. If you don’t, you’re going to cramp up quickly.
A quick jog before and after the game is another great way to reduce the chances of an injury. And if you’re ever in the midst of play and an injury makes itself known, take yourself out of the match for a breather. Pain tends to get worse if you try to play through it, and the earlier you get damage seen to, the better your chances of avoiding more serious threats.
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