Table of contents:
- How do you avoid head injuries while playing football?
- 1. Use protective equipment
- 2. Avoid playing techniques that endanger yourself
- 3. Avoid playing with violence
- 4. Using an age-appropriate ball size
- 5. Cover the goalposts with bearings, and anchor the goalposts to the ground
Head injury is one of the risks that must be faced when engaging in contact sports, such as football. The head injury itself can range from minor injuries, such as bruises or abrasions to the head, to severe ones such as concussions and skull fractures that can be fatal.
One of the most famous head injury cases in the world of football is the head injury suffered by Petr Cech in 2006. Cech had a collision with one of the opposing players. This incident resulted in a fracture in the skull (fractured skull) which nearly took his life.
How do you avoid head injuries while playing football?
Here are tips you can do to avoid head injuries during football.
1. Use protective equipment
If you are a fan of English football, you must be familiar with Petr Cech who always wears a helmet in every match. Since his injury, doctors have forbidden Cech to compete without a helmet.
Many studies show that helmets and headgear can reduce the effect of hitting the head. What's more, according to Delaney et al, goalkeepers are the players with the highest risk of head injury. So do not be surprised if the doctor insists that Cech always hit the helmet when competing in order to avoid recurring head injuries.
You can also use mouthguard or a mouth guard to prevent injury to the face and jaw.
2. Avoid playing techniques that endanger yourself
Even though you have used protective equipment, it does not mean that you are 100% free from the risk of head injury. Using self-harm techniques can still put you at risk for head injury.
This needs to be emphasized in children and adolescents especially those who are just starting out in football. For beginners, you should avoid heading too often. Keep practicing to do the technique and timing good heading so as not to endanger yourself and other players. It is best if the exercises are carried out under the supervision of a trainer and in a situation that is safely controlled.
3. Avoid playing with violence
Playing aggressively is not forbidden in football. In fact, being competitive and aggressive is one of the things that makes football interesting. However, acts of violence should always be avoided as they can cause head injuries and other injuries.
4. Using an age-appropriate ball size
The size of the ball that is in accordance with the size of the player's body will make it easier for the player to control the ball. If the size of the ball is too large, the player will have difficulty controlling the ball so that he is at risk of injury. The following are the age-appropriate ball sizes.
- Ball No. 3: children under 10 years
- Ball No. 4: children aged 10-14 years
- Ball No. 5: for children over 14 years of age
5. Cover the goalposts with bearings, and anchor the goalposts to the ground
Not only due to collisions between players, head injuries can also occur when the head hits the goalpost. For that, it is better if the goalposts are covered with soft pads so that you can play safely.
Goalposts portable should be tethered to the ground to avoid the possibility of the goalposts collapsing and falling on the player.
Besides the tricks above, F-MARC (FIFA Medical Assessment and Research Center) himself suggested tightening the rules of the game in an effort to limit contact between the upper limbs and the head. Always pay attention to your safety when exercising for a fun sport and maximum performance.
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