Soccer is a contact sport. Just because soccer players wear less padding than America footballers, there is still plenty of physical contact in any high-level match. Shin to shin and other leg injuries are common. The Soccer Injuries FAQ notes that: “Other than contusions, injuries to the upper body in soccer are less common. The collisions in the sport will occasionally cause a shoulder separation, which is damage to the acromioclavical (AC) joint, the connection between the shoulder blade and the collarbone. Soccer goalies are more exposed to shoulder injury as a result of diving across the crease to make saves and striking the goal post.

Head injuries may occasionally arise due to collisions with opponents—concussion and damage to the player’s teeth are the greatest risk. Many players wear mouth guards to protect their teeth, which has the additional benefit of reducing the effect of concussions by keeping the tempomandibular joint (TMJ) from being driven upward into the skull. Since the mid-1990s, there has been controversy in the international sports science community as to whether the repeated heading of a soccer ball will cause damage to the brain or to the muscles and structure of the neck. Various studies initiated by soccer nations have not yet resolved this question.”

[Senior Goal Keeper Danielle Landau lays on the field during the ISL Tournament after being kicked in the neck making a save at the Bullis School in her final high school soccer match. She was put in a neck brace and did not return to the field.]