Avoid Heat Stress by Laurie Eva
The fall soccer season is just around the corner. That method of reference can be somewhat misleading, since most people associate the autumn season with cool days. For those on the soccer pitch, however, preseason training and early season games come during some of the hottest days of the year and can result in heat- related stress on the athletes. For More

How Much are Your Kids Legs Worth by Jeff Wander
As coach of my local high school varsity team, I always study intently the play of my junior varsity, as they are players that I may call on this season or who may be an integral part of my team next year. Recently, while watching a junior varsity game, two fifteen-year-old boys, with great vigor and zeal, both attempted to chase down a loose ball. In an effort to keep the other from gaining possession, each swung mightily with one of their legs. The sound that erupted brought chills to all of those in attendance. For More  

Injury Management for Coaches without Medical Training by Marc Cadden
If you are an experienced physician, paramedic, nurse, or other medical personnel, then this article is probably not for you. The truth is that most coaches have no formal medical training, and yet, it is often the coach who is on the front line for handling injuries in any sports activity. To set the stage, let's assume that you are coaching a U-13 Boys game and two opposing players go fair, but hard after a ball in the air -- bodies and heads collide and the players go down and stay down. You are called onto the field by the referee. Later on, it will be found that one player simply got the wind knocked out of him and the other will have a more serious rib cage injury, but for now -- HOW DO YOU TELL THE DIFFERENCE? HINT: you probably can't right away. So now what do you do? For More

Knee Pain in Growing Soccer Players Could be OsGood-Schlatter Disease by Mary Brophy Marcus
It happened in an instant. Last year, Deb Anderson was chasing a soccer ball down a field one moment, and the next moment her knee gave out and she was on the ground. "It was the oddest feeling. My foot went one way, and the rest of my body went the other way," says Anderson, 44, an editor and writer at the Oakland Press in Pontiac, Mich., who played soccer four nights a week. Anderson had made the unhappy discovery that the knee is women athletes' Achilles heel. For More

Osgood-Schlatter Disease
Osgood-Schlatter Disease is a condition that is caused by the inflammation of the area in the knee where the knee cap tendon connects to the bone, about two inches below the knee cap at the growth plate. It is usually most prevalent in active teens experiencing growth spurts and is more common in boys than girls. For More

Playing in Cold Weather by Don Kirkendal PhD
Much was made about the U.S. Soccer Federation scheduling the first World Cup qualifier in Columbus, Ohio, last February against Mexico. The media speculated that the Federation was hoping for two things to happen. First (as always), it was hoping for a decidedly pro-American crowd in Columbus. Second, it hoped the weather would be colder than the Mexican players would find comfortable. Had the game been played in Los Angeles, Dallas or Miami, it might have ensured a larger crowd, but the setting might favor the Mexicans and the weather would be more like theirs at home. I recall a Mexican coach saying that it is the host team's prerogative to set a game in conditions that favor the home team. Having lived in Columbus, I can tell you that late February can be no picnic. While we take precautions when playing in the heat, we also need to pay attention to some details when exercising in the cold. For More

R.I.C.E.
The Recipe to Treat Sprains & Strains For More

Stretching by M. Todd Nasca
The use of stretching exercise to increase flexibility is a popular and important aspect of physical conditioning for sports. Increased flexibility through stretching may decrease muscle strains, alleviate muscle soreness and contribute to athletic performance. It is important to use a warm-up routine to increase the bodies’ temperature and blood flow to the muscles. This will help your muscles obtain the best stretch and perform at greater intensity. For More

Tooth Knocked Out? It Can Be Saved
A dentist can replant it, but there are precautions to be taken. More than two million teeth are needlessly lost each year by being accidentally knocked out in all types of accidents. Many of these occur during sports activities such as soccer or even during routine school activities. People involved in any sport or any school activity should be aware of the fact that dental research has developed methods of saving almost all of these teeth through a process called replantation. For More