Soccer isn’t a contact sport. At least, that's a claim you'll commonly hear from fans of more overtly physical sports like American football, wrestling, or ice hockey. Those sports certainly involve much more physical contact between players than soccer. However, soccer is still considered a contact sport.

Some of the confusion arises from the difference between contact and collision sports, which primarily comes down to the amount of contact between players, and the forcefulness of that contact. Soccer involves significant physical contact as a natural and important part of the game. However, acceptable contact is strictly defined by the rules of the game.

What Defines a Contact Sport?

Let's take a closer look at why soccer is considered a contact sport.

Contact vs. Collision vs. Non-Contact

Sports are divided into three different categories – collision, contact, and non-contact.

• Collision: These are sports where athletes purposefully make intentional, forceful contact with each other (or animals, or inanimate objects), as in boxing, rodeo, or hockey.
• Contact: Contact sports involve frequent physical engagement between players. However, the contact is often not intentional and is generally of much lower force than collision sports, such as soccer, basketball, and baseball.
• Non-Contact: There is no direct physical interaction between players, such as in tennis, swimming, and golf.

Where Soccer Falls on the Spectrum

So, where exactly does soccer fall in this "contact" spectrum?

Soccer is classified as a contact sport since it involves regular contact between players as an unavoidable part of the game. The contact in soccer involves both intentional and incidental physical interactions, so the rules of the game allow for legal contact between players under carefully defined conditions.

The Three Types of Contact in Soccer

The rules of soccer take into account three types of contact:

Legal Contact

Some types of contact are completely legal under the rules since they occur naturally during the course of games. These include:

• Shoulder-to-shoulder challenges
• Using the body to shield the ball
• Clean tackles

Illegal Contact

However, there are also several types of contact that go beyond the inherent physical aspects of the game. These forms of illegal contact give the infringing team an unfair advantage and can be dangerous. They include tripping, pushing, striking, and charging with excessive force.

The International Football Association Board (IFAB) defines the rules for all FIFA football games, from elite Champions League games down to local amateur youth matches. These rules clearly define careless, reckless, and excessive force in the game, and what actions should be taken to punish such acts.

The referee can award a direct free-kick or a penalty kick to the receiving team, and a yellow card or red card to the offending player. A red card means the player is expelled from the game, and his team must continue the game one player short. A yellow card is an official caution – one more serious offense and you'll be expelled from the game. Two yellow cards equal a red.

The referee determines when there's illegal contact, and the appropriate disciplinary action to take in each case.

• "Careless" is when a player unintentionally makes illegal contact with another player. No cards are generally issued for this type of violation.
• "Reckless" is when a player makes a challenge that disregards potential danger to the opposing player as a result of the challenge. As long as the challenge is not overly serious, a yellow card is generally shown in these cases.
• "Excessive force" is when a player instigates contact that is dangerous for opponents, such as making a studs-up (or cleat-up), or head-high challenge. In these cases, a red card is usually the result.

Accidental Contact

Finally, certain types of contact in a soccer game are completely accidental but can cause unintentional injury. For example, two players' heads might clash while they're both jumping to head the same ball, and players can land awkwardly, or get their legs and feet tangled after a legal challenge.

These forms of contact are often not penalized, especially when they're entirely accidental. However, they can often produce injuries, in part because the players are not expecting the contact that causes them, and thus are not braced for the collision. In these situations, a player's awareness of what's going on around them, and their body positioning can be the decisive factor in preventing injury.

Common Myths and Misconceptions

Make no mistake, while the basic game might not be as rough as Australian Rules Football or kickboxing, football injuries are all too common from professional football down to informal games. Let's debunk some common misperceptions about the risk of injury in "The Beautiful Game."

“Soccer Is Gentle Compared to Football”

The data doesn't lie – the risk of contact in soccer is very high, leading to a high rate of injury.

One study revealed that per 1,000 hours of playing time, there are from 9.5 to 48.7 soccer injuries in youth soccer among male players, and 12.5 to 30.3 injuries among female players. Among male professional soccer players, soccer injuries occur at a rate of 2.5 to 8.7 injuries per 1,000 hours of game time.

Unlike American football, soccer players don't wear any padding except for shin pads. High-speed collisions between players, or even between players and the goal post, are common, so the risk of injury for soccer players at all levels of the game is high. Common injury types include muscle strains, ankle, and kneed injuries. However, there is also a risk of head injury, and even chronic brain injury, if the right precautions are not taken.

“It’s Safe for Kids Because It’s Non-Contact”

As noted above, the risk of injury is between four and eight times greater for youth players than for professional soccer players. Kids' bodies are still growing, and even among elite youth players, training and preparation are not as comprehensive as for adult players. That leaves kids exposed to a wider range of injuries than adults.

So, to reduce the risk of injury for youth players, it's important to ensure they have as much protection as possible. The answer is not to avoid contact. It's an intrinsic part of the game, and avoiding contact will only reduce a player's enjoyment of and effectiveness in the game – to the detriment of the team.

A more constructive approach to limit the incidence and severity of injury is to educate yourself and the other players about the risks and how to reduce them. You should also invest in good protective gear to provide as much protection as possible.

How Dangerous Is Soccer Really?

But is it really necessary to buy protective gear? Is it really that dangerous?

Injury Rates in Youth and Adult Soccer

As we've shown, the risk of soccer injuries is not trivial, with an average of six to 10 injuries per 1,000 hours of play. The most common injuries, such as sprains and strains, concussions, and ankle twists, will heal completely over time.

But players are also at risk of rarer and more serious injuries like skull fractures, brain injuries, and ligament tears. The effects of these injuries can be career-ending, and last a lifetime.

Preventing Injuries Through Technique and Gear

So, how do you reduce the risk and severity of injury in soccer?

Players can take steps to increase both their own safety and that of fellow players. Learning how to tackle properly, including the timing of the tackle and the positioning of your body, reduces the chances of mistakenly causing an injury during a challenge. Improving spatial awareness also reduces the chances of making accidental contact.

Sportsmanship is also an important aspect of injury avoidance. Soccer should be played hard, but fair. Players should never deliberately set out to hurt opponents. In this regard, particularly at youth levels of the game, the coach's role in drilling these skills and the ethos of sportsmanship into the players is vital.

Soccer Gear That Helps Minimize Injury

At Storelli, you'll find a variety of high-quality soccer gear to increase your safety on the field.

Protective Equipment Worth Having

Here are some of the most essential soccer safety items to consider:

• Shin Guards – Protect your shins from kicks and knocks. Storelli Slip-In Shin Guards, for example, offer a great blend of lightness and durability.
• Compression Sleeves – Tight, elasticized bands of fabric that stabilize muscles and reduce the impact of physical contact.
• Ankle Protection – Key items for defenders and youth players, they offer protection, support, and flexibility.
• Headbands for Headers – Particularly for youth players, headbands reduce the impact of heading the ball, lowering the risk of concussion.

Recommended Gear for Different Player Types

Depending on the position you play, certain gear can make a big impact on your safety during games.

• For defenders: Full ankle-protected shin guards are a must to deal with those tussles with attackers.
• For midfielders: Lightweight slip-ins with sleeves increase mobility and comfort while reducing the risk of pulled muscles ves, and other non-contact-related injuries.
• For goalkeepers: Storelle has a range of soccer goalie equipment that boosts performance, adds protection, and look great to boot. The goalkeeper jersey, goalkeeper gloves, and goalkeeper pants give you safety with style.
• For youth players: Shin socks with built-in padding are more comfortable and less bulky, but offer the same protection as stand-alone shin pads.

Final Thoughts: Yes, Soccer Is a Contact Sport

All things considered, soccer is definitely a contact sport that involves regular and legal contact. The nature of the game means making physical contact with other players constantly. However, you can't legally make bone-crunching tackles or elbow someone in the ribs without facing a yellow or red card from the ref.

Understanding the rules of the game and what constitutes legal, non-dangerous contact goes a long way toward both playing the game effectively and reducing soccer injuries. For youngsters, the contact itself isn't any more dangerous than many seemingly more innocuous playground games. More importantly, it's impossible to enjoy the game properly or compete effectively without the contact.

So, for parents and players alike, embrace the physicality of the game, but make sure you're protected with the right training and protective gear.

FAQs

Is soccer classified as a contact sport?

Yes, soccer is considered a contact sport.

Is soccer a collision or contact sport?

Soccer is considered a contact sport since the contact isn't intentional and forceful as in a collision sport.

Is soccer considered a high contact sport?

Yes, soccer is considered a high-contact sport. Contact is frequent and unavoidable during games.

What sports are considered a contact sport?

Contact sports include soccer, basketball, baseball, and handball.