Orofacial injuries in youth soccer.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to estimate the incidence of orofacial injuries in youth soccer in the 1995 fall and 1996 spring seasons for eight Dallas, Texas metropolitan area YMCA youth soccer leagues. METHOD Surveys requesting orofacial injury as well as game and practice information were sent to all soccer coaches of children 3 to 12 years of age in eight cooperating YMCA leagues in the Dallas metropolitan area. RESULTS The incidence of orofacial injury was low. In 47,772 hours of games and practice only 17 orofacial injuries were reported by the 122 coaches who responded. All reported injuries were to soft tissue and none required professional attention. CONCLUSION The reported incidence of orofacial injury was very low suggesting that at the age and skill levels represented by these YMCA teams, soccer appears to be relatively safe to the maxillofacial complex.