Safety-First Adult Soccer League in Brooklyn

We interviewed a bunch of our referees to identify the greatest injury risk factors and design targeted interventions while preserving the competitive spirit of the game.

• Goalkeeper injuries

  • Custom nets (wide and low) eliminate need for goalkeepers while giving enough real estate to shoot at. 

• Uncontrolled collisions

  • No slide tackles and strictly limited off-the-ball contact. If you can’t stop in time, you went in too fast.

• Unanticipated collisions

  • Strictly limited contact from outside your opponent’s field of view. You can get touch-tight without clattering them.

• On-field escalation

  • Strictly limited use of arms and elbows. No grappling. When tempers flare, self control goes out the window and the risk of injury increases.

• Safety equipment

  • Shinguards are required and inspected during pre-game huddle.