In Great Britain, the largest number of sport-related orbital blowout fractures occurred in soccer. The frequency of eye injuries in soccer has contributed to the recommendation by the American Academy of Pediatrics' Committee on Sports Medicine and Fitness and the American Academy of Ophthalmology Committee on Eye Safety and Sports Ophthalmology that protective sports eye equipment using polycarbonate lenses be worn during soccer practice and competition. 24 Soccer is the second leading cause of orofacial and dental injuries in sports, preceded only by basketball. Use of protective mouth guards has been advocated to reduce the number of such injuries. The frequency and types of injuries observed in youth soccer are comparable to other sports that require running or involve contact and collisions.
Most injuries are to the soft tissue and occur most frequently in the lower extremities.
There is no compelling evidence to suggest that age, player position, techniques, or surface characteristics are associated with specific injuries or overall injury rates. Further research is needed to determine if rule changes, equipment modifications, or further safety interventions can reduce the number of other injuries. Because soccer-related fatalities have been strongly linked with head impact on goalposts, goalposts should be secured in a manner consistent with guidelines developed by the manufacturers and the US Consumer Product Safety Commission. The potential for permanent cognitive impairment from heading the ball needs to be explored further. Currently, there seems to be insufficient published data to support a recommendation that young soccer players completely refrain from heading the ball.