Is your child playing soccer this fall?
St. Elizabeth Healthcare looks at the start of high school fall sports and what athletes, coaches and parents should know to keep athletes healthy and optimize performance. First, we covered cross country. This week, soccer:
Key dates
Kentucky: first competition Aug. 15; district play week of Oct. 9-15; region play week of Oct. 16-22; state quarterfinals week of Oct. 23-29; state semifinals/finals week of Oct. 30-Nov. 5. Ohio boys: first competition Aug. 20; sectional tournaments Oct. 17-22; district tournaments Oct. 24-29; regional tournaments Nov. 1-5; state semifinals Nov. 9, finals Nov. 12. Ohio girls: first competition Aug. 20; sectional tournaments Oct. 17-22; district tournaments Oct. 24-29; regionals tournaments Nov. 1-5; state semifinals Nov. 8, finals Nov. 11.
Common injuries
According to NCAA data, the most common soccer injuries are ligament sprains, muscle strains, contusions and concussions. The most common specific injury? Ankle sprains. “Landing the wrong way, or landing on someone else’s foot,” said Dr. Tyler Browning of St. Elizabeth Sports Medicine. “We see a lot of that.” The classic sprain, he said, involves pain on the outside of the ankle. “If it’s on the inside, it can be something more serious, and it’s definitely something you should have evaluated,” he said. Another area of concern, particularly early in the season, is heat-related injury, Dr. Browning said.
Ounce of prevention
Don’t minimize or mail in your stretching. It’s the No. 1 way to help avoid muscle strains. In the heat of battle, always remember to practice proper technique, whether tackling or trying for that 50-50 ball. Headers require particular attention to detail to minimize concussion risk. Heads often can come in contact on 50-50 balls, but heading the ball alone is not without risk; headers account for a third of concussions in youth soccer, according to former U.S. Women’s National Team star Brandi Chastain’s Safer Soccer Initiative. Be particularly attuned to potential dangers in the penalty area on set pieces, where lots of players vie for the ball in a tight space.
Pound of cure
Ankle sprains are graded 1-3, with three being the most severe. Length of recovery depends on severity of the injury. RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation) remains the best treatment for an ankle sprain. Icing several times a day reduces swelling and alleviates pain. Compression also mitigates swelling, as does keeping the affected area elevated above heart level. The same applies to a hamstring strain.
Concussions, a hot-button issue recently, must be approached with the utmost concern. If an athlete is diagnosed with a concussion, by Kentucky High School Athletic Association rule he or she must be cleared by an MD or DO (in writing, to school administrators) before returning to practice or competition. Before approval is given, a stepwise protocol is to be followed: No activity, followed by light aerobic activity, sport-specific activity, non-contact drills, full practice and finally resumption of competition. The KHSAA recommends an interval of at least 24 hours for each step in the protocol.
The last word
If you’re returning from that most-common injury, the ankle sprain, make sure to work with your team’s medical staff to make sure it’s stable, whether that means taping or perhaps wearing a brace. Rigid braces by companies like Active Ankle offer worthwhile support to help prevent repeat sprains, Dr. Browning said.
