Some of the most common goalkeeper injuries include jammed fingers, hand sprains, or fractures. These common goalkeeper injuries may be the result of stopping/blocking shots, running into other players, or landing on your hands while making a save.

Goalkeepers are also likely to hurt their elbows or knees during training or matches. Injuries to elbows and knees may come from making diving saves, falling to the ground, blocking/saving shots, or colliding with teammates or opposing players.

A fall onto your elbow could result in a dislocation. Meanwhile, kicks to the legs could result in contusions or dislocations. Broken fingers could be a result of hard shots. Goalkeepers may also incur broken hands, fingers, or wrists. The goalkeeper position is a difficult position to play. Therefore, injuries can occur at any time.

One of the most common goalkeeper injuries that players suffer in their lower body are ankle sprains. These are very common as goalkeepers run, jump, and push off with power. Shot-stoppers also twist and turn quickly, which could result in an ankle sprain.

Let’s look deeper into common goalkeeper injuries.

FINGERS AND HANDS

Due to the ball being kicked fast and hard at you, your reflexes must be quick. Even with quick reflexes, you can suffer an injury to your fingers and hands due to hard shots. Injuries to fingers and hands become even more likely when you dive side to side or leap to tip a ball over the ball. You will often see goalkeepers remove their gloves following a match to see their finger joints, wrists, and knuckles tapped up. This is one way to reduce the risk of jamming and breaking fingers and wrists.

CONTUSIONS

Contusions are also commonplace goalkeeper injuries. Due to the diving and collisions that can occur when playing in net, goalkeepers can endure bruises, knots, and cuts. Contusions can be treated more easily than other injuries.  For example, knots, swelling, and bruises can be iced after matches or training. Cuts that require stitches or treatment can send a goalkeeper to the sidelines for a short time.

MUSCLE STRAINS

Muscle strains can occur in a variety of body parts from the back to the glutes to the legs. Hamstrings are probably the most often muscle strained. Goalkeepers need to jump, dive, and move in a variety of ways to stop shots. Goalkeepers can also endure a leg injury by kicking the ball down the pitch. One of the most common ways goalkeepers suffer a muscle strain in modern football is due to rushing out of goal to cover for defenders.