Guest Author - Cathy Spearmon

Although soccer is a lot of fun and becoming a very popular sport among children of all ages, parents must continue to think about their child’s safety to prevent injuries.

Besides your child’s uniform, there are some other important pieces of equipment that are needed before your child goes out on that field and they include:

• shin guards


• a mouth guard


• sun screen for those really sunny days


• insect repellant


• a water bottle


• soccer shoes, preferably ones with molded cleats
and, of course,

• a soccer ball, preferably one that is appropriate to your child’s size.

Other ways of keeping your child safe while playing or practicing soccer include:

• Make sure that the soccer goals are securely anchored and the soccer field is maintained.


• Do not encourage your child to use the heading technique.


• Keep your child full of fluid, so that she or he does not become dehydrated.
• Make sure your child stretches and warms-up before heading out to the field to play or practice.


• Get your child checked out by your Pediatrician before allowing her or him to start a new sport


• The most important thing to remember, as a parent, is to keep soccer fun for your child.< /li>