Football is more than just a game for many children. It's a passion, a dream, and a fun way to stay active. However, like any sport, it comes with its risks and challenges. Injuries can happen, but with the right precautions, their frequency and severity can be significantly reduced.
At British Football School we always provide a safe environment for children and we educate them on how to watch out for themselves and their teammates during the game. Before diving into prevention strategies, it’s crucial to understand what young players are up against. Common injuries in youth football include sprains, strains and bruises. These can result from falls, collisions, or simply the wrong move at the wrong time.
In this blog post we’ve gathered for you several tips and ideas on how to keep young athletes safe on the football field.
Proper warm-up and cool-down routines
We always start our training with light aerobic exercises to increase the heart rate and blood flow to the muscles. After that we follow up with dynamic stretches focusing on soccer-specific movements to prepare for the game. After practice and matches, it’s time for jogging or walking followed by stretching. This helps to reduce muscle soreness and prevent stiffness after an intensive training session.
Hydration and Nutrition
Water is our best friend. :)
On the field, off the field and at any other time.
We always encourage players to stay hydrated and drink water before, during and after practice to prevent dehydration.
Food is another good friend of ours. Understanding what’s good and not so good for our tonus as players and human beings starts from an early age. In our holiday camps we have specially designated panels in which we talk about nutrition and how the various food groups affect our performance in the game.
A balanced diet rich in carbohydrates, proteins and vitamins is essential for fueling our bodies and aid recovery after training.
You can read more about young football players’ nutrition here.
Technical skills and fair play
Mastery in the game and good team spirit are another important factor for keeping everyone safe. We teach players proper techniques for passing, shooting, heading and tackling. This improves their performance and reduces the risk of injury.
Sportsmanship and respect for the rules are fundamental for BFS training sessions and camps.
Good rest between trainings
It’s essential that players get good rest between matches and training sessions. Rotating players during the game is another way to provide them with much necessary breaks and reduce the risk of injuries due to fatigue.
Positive and friendly environment
At the heart of British Football School is the friendly and positive environment where everyone has the chance to grow, develop and share their thoughts and ideas with the team and the coaches. We teach children the importance of team spirit and the value of a player’s well-being over winning. This very much encourages them to speak up in case they’re injured or need a break.
The British Football Club training sessions happen regularly in Bucharest, Romania, with various locations and hours.
CHECK OUR SCHEDULE AND VENUES
Our teams are divided by age, gender and player ability level. That way we ensure that everyone feels comfortable and confident on the field.
We also run international holiday camps in different countries across Europe. Take a look at our upcoming events:
UPCOMING HOLIDAY FOOTBALL CAMPS – EUROPE 2024