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Widely known as a tough sport, soccer was once known as a gentleman’s game. The game’s competitiveness has increased over the years, making it more dangerous.
Many players have died over the years playing the game of soccer – some due to what happened on the field.
The authorities of the game have taken action over recent years to prevent serious injury by giving the officials the power to stop a game for a head injury.
Sadly, some players use this rule to their advantage by gaining stoppage for their team to break up the play.
Terminal Velocity of a Soccer Ball
A soccer ball can be a dangerous object when struck due to its weight and mass. With only the air to slow the ball down, a soccer ball can reach a force that can cause serious damage.
The rate of terminal velocity can give us an indication of the force a soccer ball produces. To give the figure some comparable here are two other rates;
The terminal velocity of a sky-diver is 53ms, and a bullet is 90ms.
Using the thermal velocity tool above with these figures;
- Mass: 450g
- Cross-section area: 1520cm2
- Drag Coefficient: 0.25
- Air Density: 1.225 kg/m3
- Gravity: 1g
- We can calculate that the thermal velocity of a soccer ball is
- 13.7696 m/s (49,570.6086 km/h) (metric)
- 45.1753 ft/s (30.8017 mph) (imp)
With a thermal velocity of 13.7, a soccer ball is nowhere near the rate of a bullet, but it still packs a punch.
Like any object, it depends on where the ball would strike a person, which would cause damage.
Getting hit in the face with a soccer ball
A soccer ball struck at full force into somebody’s face in pain. Normally when this happens, it’s at close range, which gives you no time to move out of the way.
The majority of the time, it’s a fun event because the player is caught off guard, and they are not seriously hurt.
I’ve seen a player knocked unconscious on the floor after the ball struck him. This was a moment of shock, then a while of concern.
A concussion can be a serious injury that could lead to another injury. A player cannot focus properly and is unable to see and assess a tackle, shot, or situation.
It can take a few minutes to regain awareness or several days fully. Have a look at this compilation of soccer balls in the face.
A goalkeeper is more likely to be hit in the face with a soccer ball. This is why it takes some bravery to be a goalkeeper – they put their body on the line.
The best goalkeepers don’t care which part of the body hits – just as long as the ball does not go in the back of the net.
If a player does get hit in the face, it’s important to check that their vision is not impaired and they can function.
I got hit in the face with a soccer ball and my jaw hurts
A ball in the face can be like a hard punch on the jaw. It can hurt quite a bit if the ball is hit with enough power and catches you in the right spot.
You normally notice that it’s painful to do so when you’re eating something. Once you stop playing the game, it’s best to put an ice pack on the painful area.
Like with many superficial injuries, it’s best to rest, and your body will recover in a few days. If it troubles you to talk or eat, seek medical advice.
Most of the time, it will be the joke for the next couple of weeks, but that’s part of the game.
Can a Soccer Ball Kill you?
A soccer ball alone is not likely to kill you, but it could be the final blow under the circumstances. If a player suffers from a brain hemorrhage or a blood clot, a ball to the head could be the fatal strike.
There are several circumstances where a soccer ball could kill you. Maybe not the ball itself, but the event that follows.
On a serious note, an accident like this occurred to a young woman in Alabama, and she sadly lost her life. The young woman, Allie Brodie, was only 18 years old.
Allie was born with a brain malformation, and the strike to the head caused bleeding in the brain.
In respect of the tragic story of Allie, health is the most important thing. Anyone with any serious injury best plays it safe and takes a supporter role.
Can Soccer Kill You?
As we a seen, soccer can kill you in the most unlikely situations. Soccer can even lead to a shortened life. The more modern soccer balls have been designed to cushion to help with the impact of the ball on the head when heading.
Players that have been retired for several years are now reporting cases of dementia due to the impact of the older heavy soccer balls.
There are calls to reduce heading in the game, and many youth leagues have introduced a no-heading policy. Which will protect the youth from injury while their head is developing.
References
- Velocity of a sky-diver is 53ms
- Thermal velocity calculator
- Soccer ball drag
- Soccer weight and dimensions
- Thermal velocity of a bullet
- Allie Brodie
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Joel is a seasoned soccer journalist and analyst with many years of experience in the field. Joel specializes in game analysis, player profiles, transfer news, and has a keen eye for the tactical nuances of the game. He played at various levels in the game and coached teams - he is happy to share his insight with you.
