Soccer Safety Tips

• Players must wear shin guards that cover the entire shin, have a strap for children to fasten under their feet and have a plastic outside cover.

• Goalies should wear gloves, elbow pads and kneepads.

• All players should wear form-fitted mouth guards and shatterproof glasses.

• Players' shoes should have molded cleats or a ribbed sole. Never use metal cleats, as they can cut another player's skin.

• The right ball can prevent head injuries. Leather balls can become heavy when wet. Use synthetic, nonabsorbent balls on wet fields.

• Soccer goals should be anchored to the ground, using anchors flush with the ground and clearly visible.