Player Safety and the Role We All Play

In sports, physical injuries are expected and while soccer might not be a collision sport, let’s be real, it’s not a gentle game either. More and more, especially in women’s soccer, ACL tears are becoming an unfortunate common occurrence. But if we can prevent some of these injuries, why wouldn’t we?

This summer I witnessed first hand the fine line between playing hard and physical and then playing reckless. I observed some of the players’ emotions pushing them toward the wrong side of that line. And while the speed, the intensity, the constant physical battles, makes soccer such a rush to play and watch, there’s a point where competitive physicality turns into something dangerous, almost like a collision sport. And when that happens, someone should step in. It’s not just on the referees, it’s on all of us who love to watch and play the game.

But especially us, as players. We need to be accountable for how we challenge and how we respond.  If we love this game, we need to protect it and keep the love by protecting the people who play in it. Because the truth is, one reckless moment can cause an injury and serious bodily harm. We’re talking a surgery or multiple surgeries, struggles with mental health because injuries don’t just hurt bodies but also take a toll on mental health too.

The responsibility is also on athletic programs and their coaching staff. They are responsible for not just setting the tone but establishing safeguards that promote player safety and good sportsmanship. They also should be controlling the conduct on the sidelines and having protocols in place when appropriate conduct is not being followed. 

Then of course there’s the referees who are in place to oversee and manage the match rules and the players' safety with authority and fairness. Obviously, not always the easiest role but one of the most important. 

When one of these roles fails, the game breaks down. When most or all of them fail? Players get hurt.

This summer,  I experienced perhaps one of the worst matches of my soccer career to date. I’ve been a referee, a player, a team captain, and now an assistant coach. I’ve seen this game from every angle. And what happened that day was a breakdown at every level.

I was competing in a tournament with teams from ECNL, GA, and NPL. In the first match, I faced a physical team that was both gritty and determined. They pushed me and my team and we respected them for this. We ended up winning and I felt it was a great game where both sides left it all on the field.

The rematch however was very different. From the start of the whistle, it wasn’t physical in a competitive sense, it was reckless. Shoulder checks turned into outright collisions. Challenges were aimed at players, not the ball. And the officiating crew? Silent. Then came the injuries.

One of our players went down hard, no foul called. She had to be carted off, likely with a torn ACL. A second player followed, also carted off, also injured. This time, to our surprise, the referee issued a foul against us. My teammates and I reviewed game footage afterwards and could tell that both plays were obvious fouls on their side.

The sidelines got loud. Parents from both teams were raising concerns. The mood shifted from intense to dangerous.

I took that moment, as captain and goalkeeper, to approach the head referee. I was calm, respectful, and clear. I didn’t argue a specific call. I simply told him that my team felt unsafe continuing. His response? “This is a physical sport. Your team should be used to this.” He went further, saying the injured player had caused the injury herself. That she fouled the other team. He laughed when I explained our team plays at the ECNL level, where we know what physical matches look like but not ones where the ball is never the target and players are and then left screaming on the ground. He waved me to go back inside the 18. 

As I walked back, I could see it on my teammates’ faces, hope for a split second, then disappointment. A few of us agreed, we would no longer take risks just to win. Some of us were heading to England soon to compete against Women’s Super League academies, we couldn’t afford to get hurt now. So we made a plan to just survive the rest of the match.

We ended up winning that match. On paper. But it honestly didn’t feel like much of a win. Two players were taken to the ER. One might miss a year of play her senior year. That’s not something you walk off. It’s a failure across the board and it absolutely affected our team’s mental health and well-being. Not to mention what my two teammates who were injured are going through. 

Since that match, I’ve asked myself: what would I have done if I were the referee? As a former ref, I know if a captain came to me calmly with those concerns, I’d stop and listen. I’d watch closer. I’d ask my ARs to do the same. I’d talk to both coaches and remind them to hold their players accountable. I’d reinforce sportsmanship. Without safety, the game has no integrity. 

I also know that as a coach, I would’ve spoken to the referee at halftime to advocate for my players. Our head coach couldn’t be there that day, and the coach who stepped in did their best which we greatly appreciated. After that match my club did an excellent job addressing this situation too. 

And again, I want to be clear: referees need protection too. The pressure, the abuse, the constant noise from sidelines is driving officials out of the game. I get that and know that’s real and unacceptable. But player safety is a non negotiable. We need balance. And we need all roles: refs, players, coaches, and fans to do better. We all share this space. We shape the game. And when things go wrong, we’re all responsible.

The culture of soccer, especially in youth sports and female soccer has to change. Not just to reduce injuries but to reinforce why we play in the first place. The lessons, the teamwork, the resilience, the respect.

It all starts with safety. Everything else builds from there.

Let’s hold ourselves and each other accountable.

Let’s protect the game.