GOAL SAFETY - Portable soccer goals can tip over, causing injury and even death. How to anchor and store your portable soccer goals, where to get warning stickers, and more.

For starters, here are some safety concerns to think about when playing soccer:

(taken from the AYSO National website under Safety)

EATING RIGHT - Nutrition and hydration for health and game performance.

STREET & PARKING LOT SAFETY - Protecting yourself and your players around the field. For practices and games.

AYSO HEADING POLICY - In response to concerns over the long-term results of heading the ball, AYSO has adopted this policy. Also discusses the concerns. For further information on heading the ball, click here.

HEAT SAFETY - How to avoid and treat heat exhaustion, heat stroke, dehydration and other heat-related illnesses.

For any AYSO related injuries, check out the links at the left for proper filing procedures or email our Safety Director at

GOAL SAFETY

(directives from National)

You have nothing to fear from a quiet, unassuming portable soccer goal, right? Its importance as the focus of a child's goal-kicking effort outweighs any possible danger, right? WRONG!

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has reported 26 deaths and hundreds of injuries since 1979 resulting from soccer goal accidents. Most of these injuries occur when children climb on top of an unsecured goal, causing it to either break from the strain (in the case of many homemade goals) or simply flip over onto an unsuspecting victim. You only need to review some of the descriptions of injuries and deaths addressed in the CPSC report to become saddened by this easily-preventable problem.

The bottom line is this: Goal safety is everyone's job and your volunteers and parents need to be aware of the dangers.

The problem with goals is their shape. There is nothing in front of the goal to prevent its tipping forward. The only way is to keep the back from lifting up.

Many portable goals are not professionally manufactured, and use the same heavy materials for the front face (goal mouth), back and bottom. Using lighter materials for the front and heavier materials for the bottom can help reduce the risk of goal tipping.

Still, even when they're properly built, securely anchoring the bottom and back of portable goals is the most important step you can take to prevent soccer goal injuries.

Other Dangers

In several cases, children climbing on goals or getting underfoot while they are being moved has resulted in serious accidents. Additionally, high winds may cause goals to tip over. Therefore, never allow children to play on goals, and always exercise caution when transporting them.

Most accidents don't happen during a game situation, but when kids are playing nearby on a non-soccer day and get the idea to hang on the goal. So be sure goals are properly stored when not in use, and disassemble them completely for the off-season.

The CPSC is working with manufacturers to address risks presented by goals and to make movable soccer goals more stable. However, there are actions you can take now to prevent accidents:

• Securely anchor or counter-weight portable goals at all times.
• Never climb on the net or goal framework.
• Remove nets when goals are not in use.
• Tip unused goals onto their goal face, or chain them face-to-face. You can also chain unused goals to nearby fence posts or other sturdy fixtures.
• Check all connecting hardware before every use. Replace damaged or missing fasteners immediately.
• Use warning labels and make sure they are clearly visible.
• Fully disassemble goals for off-season storage.

View goal and flag area diagram

IS HEADING SAFE? (taken from the AYSO National website under "Safety")

By: John Ouellette, AYSO National Coach / Technical Director, coaching@ayso.org

Many of you read a recent article that said heading in soccer could cause some brain damage. Never has one story provoked so many calls to the Coaching Department at the National Support Center of AYSO. Reaction such as "Is it true?"and "What position has AYSO taken?"

The AYSO Education Department and the AYSO Coaching Technical Committee believe that heading is part of the game of soccer, and it should be introduced and taught properly to players at the appropriate age and time. Introduction of heading at an early age or improper heading at any age may be linked to certain kinds of temporary or long term effects.

While scientific evidence is preliminary, some studies indicate that young players who head too early in their physical development are susceptible to potential risks, including risks to the skull, neck, and spine. In addition, soft and connective tissues, such as those associated with the brain, may be affected under some circumstances, too.

Improper heading at any age may expose a player to risk.

Studies indicate soccer is not the leading source of sports injuries to the head and neck, so the act of heading should be regarded within a complete context of risk. Studies do indicate that head-to-head contact among players, head contact with the ground, and head contact with goal posts and other associated playing equipment pose a greater risk than the simple act of heading the ball. These kinds of risk are associated with most outdoor team sports.

As the level of play advances and the participants skills increase, the proper heading techniques need to be introduced to prepare the player for proper execution. Proper techniques can first be learned through the use of rag, nerf, and inflatable balls, thus avoiding unnecessary, repetitive heading of a regulation soccer ball.

When a real soccer ball is used to simulate game conditions during practice, its use should be of limited duration and repetition. Players who demonstrate a fear of the ball should be shown appropriate ball control techniques that do not force them to head the ball before they are ready.

Heading represents a player's earliest opportunity to play an air ball. It also causes more apprehension than any other soccer skill, particularly with younger players. Therefore, the coach needs to be concerned with the apprehension and the poor technique which may result. A general rule of thumb to follow is to start teaching heading when a players show an interest, not when the coach thinks it should be taught.

Teach the skill of heading correctly. Remember to use a Nerf(r)-type ball, a rag ball, or an under inflated ball to start heading for the comfort and security of young players.

Teach your players to prepare to head the ball using the following reminders:

• keep your eye on the ball.
• place your body so that your forehead will meet the ball.
• take a comfortable stance with knees bent.
• keep your eyes open.
• keep your mouth closed.
• keep your chin tucked.
• keep a rigid neck.
• use your arms for balance.

Teach your players how to contact the ball using the following techniques:

• contact the ball with the forehead.
• your legs should propel your body from your waist to head the ball.
• your neck should be kept rigid.
• follow through toward the target.
• once you head the ball, put your body back into a position where you can then go to the next move.

Never have an unwilling player head the ball. He or she will not head in a game, why force them to at practice? Also don't have children do headers over and over again.

To sum it all up, introduce heading at an appropriate age level,

• teach the skill correctly,
• never force a player to head the ball, and
• limit the amount of times a child heads the ball.