Epidemiology of Soccer Injuries Among Goalkeepers Presenting to US Emergency Departments: A 5-Year Descriptive Study

To characterize the epidemiology, diagnosis, and mechanisms of soccer-related injuries among goalkeepers and compare them with those sustained by field players, stratified by age and sex.

Descriptive epidemiological study.

United States emergency departments reporting to the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System between January 2019 and December 2023.

All individuals who presented to US emergency departments with a soccer-related injury during the study period (n = 29 309 cases; national estimate 806 446). A subset of 562 cases were confirmed to have occurred while playing goalkeeper.

Goalkeeper cases were identified through narrative key-term searches ("goalkeeper," "keeper," or "goalie"). Data were analyzed by age group, sex, diagnosis, body part injured, and mechanism of injury (MOI).

National weighted injury estimates were used to assess differences in injury characteristics, diagnosis, and MOI between goalkeepers and field players, and across age groups and sex.

Goalkeepers were twice as likely as field players to be diagnosed with concussion (12.8% vs 6.4%). They sustained higher proportions of upper extremity injuries, particularly wrist and finger injuries. The mean goalkeeper age was 15.1 years, with most cases in adolescents aged 12 to 17 years (55%). School-aged children (6-11 years) were more likely to present after being struck by a soccer ball [odds ratios (OR) = 3.03] and to sustain fractures (OR = 2.21). Adolescents had increased odds of player-to-player collision injuries (OR = 2.26) and concussions (OR = 2.61). Young adults had greater odds of ground-related injuries (OR = 1.96) and joint dislocations (OR = 4.75). Men were more likely than women to be injured through collision with another player ( P = 0.015).

There are distinct position- and age-specific patterns in soccer-related injuries presenting to US emergency departments. Goalkeepers face a disproportionate risk of upper extremity injuries and concussions, underscoring the importance of tailored injury-prevention strategies and greater awareness among coaches, trainers, and players.