Soccer is a sport beloved by many worldwide, but has the risk of injuries outweighed participating in the sport?

In a CNN article discussing the rise in youth soccer related injuries within the United States, it proclaims that between 1990 and 2014 youth soccer injuries have increased by 111%, but that is only counting emergency room visits. This spike in injuries is thought to be because of soccer’s rise in popularity from its first debut in the 1960’s and 1970’s.

For three Perry Varsity soccer players the fear of injury doesn’t stop them. Junior Logan VanDine has been playing soccer since she was in kindergarten and because of her dedication to sport; she has received several injuries including three concussions, three ankle injuries and a wrist injury. Similarly VanDine’s teammates, Delaney Uyeshiro and Emma Richey, have both received multiple injuries because of soccer.

Girls’ varsity soccer head coach, Coach John Roberts states that “Anybody that plays soccer gets injured, gets a concussion, it’s just part of the game”. Roberts, who has seen his fair share of injuries, has been coaching soccer since he was 18 years old and playing since he was four.

As he goes onto say “That it’s inevitable that a kid will have a concussion this year. I haven’t gone through a season where a kid hasn’t received a concussion. It’s inevitable that somebody will roll an ankle”. These typical injuries have spiked up within the last year and they don’t seem to be coming down anytime soon.

Roberts whom has been a part of the game for many years states “If I got hit in the head I would play through it…just the education on it about concussions and injuries more widespread so coaches are more aware of it”

Because people and specifically coaches are now able to tell the signs of injuries and know the risk of playing with them, especially concussions, they are able to take the soccer player out and make sure they get the proper treatment for their injury and that they don’t play until they are fully healed.

This spike in youth soccer injury has increased within the past few years but that doesn’t stop the determined soccer players from doing what they love.