To forbid DD from playing football at break?

[PFBGirlAlert]

Ok, I know I am really, but hear me out!

DD plays an instrument (rather well, if I may say so) and she also plays a sport competitively at national level and another county level.

She has started playing football with her classmates at break and it seems she is invariably in goal. I found out when she came home once complaining she'd hurt her hand and I told her it was football and she's supposed to use her feet! I pointed out it wasn't a good idea due to injury risk and she seemed to agree.

Shes just had her last tournament of the season and last concert and one of the first things she said was "oh good I can play football again now!"

I never said she shouldn't play, only that she shouldn't play goalie.

I still don't think it's a good idea, she will be devastated if she injures her wrist.

Is there anything I can do/say/show her to mitigate the risk of injury? Should she bandage her wrists like she does for boxing? Gloves- do they help protect, if so which? Techniques to learn? Or should I tell her she's not to play in goal?

AIBU - to forbid her to play in goal?
YANBU - it's a sensible precaution

My ds just broke his wrist playing football but to be fair that's a one off in 13 years.

Maybe her destiny is to be a goalie for the Lionesses? Don’t stop her. How about goalkeepers gloves?

https://www.just-keepers.com/goalkeeper-gloves/junior-goalie-gloves/

If it’s boxing she is into, then she probably automatically prefers being goalie because it’s another thinking with the hands activity.

I can see why you think gloves would be a good move and is probably the way I would go.

But otherwise, perhaps frame playing on the football field (rather than in goal) as an activity to train her feet better.

I'd be much more worried about the boxing, personally. Wrists heal, brains not always.

A sure fire way to put a child off a sport/activity is to ban them from doing any other sport/activity.
A sure fire way to make something more appealing is to attempt to ban it.
Let her do what she enjoys. It's also a lesson in actions and potential consequences.

Depends. Does she want to play the instrument/sport? Are you going to stop her cooking in case she cuts herself?

Get her gloves and wrist supports, and encourage her to enjoy playing with her friends at break.
She might be very good, but she's surely not good enough to miss out on playing a game she enjoys with friends at school.

Goalie gloves and suggest a smaller or less hard ball? You could buy one? Depending on the abilities of the other kids it is a real risk to her wrist tbh to be in goal without protection or training. If they’re just wee and having a kick about- less so.
My son is a decent wee footballer and went to a training session for skills with other good players- he had his wrist broken trying to save a goal (which he was pleased to say he saved!) but he isn’t a goalie and they weren’t wearing gloves… to be fair he bounced back and it didn’t affect his instrument playing for more than a fortnight…

Aw, I don't want to make you feel bad as it sounds like you do a bit already, and you probably didn't realise it was a big deal, but worrying about impact on her future career in the playground sounds a bit much. If her friends are playing football she'll be literally on the sidelines, for one. Gloves sound the way to go.

How old is she? Surely she'll just go and do it any way, only she won't tell you

@ClareWilsonNS she does boxing for fitness to complement her sports, not competitively. They don't fight, only punch bags.

The sports, competitions and music are totally her choice. She is looking to be in the top 10 next year so she is serious about it.

The ball they use is the one one of the boys brings in. I don't think they would opt for a smaller or softer ball on her account!

@Magnificentkitteh thanks! Yes I do feel bad. I didn't realise she'd taken it as a "you mustn't play football" when I'd meant it as "play football, just not in goal"

Sorry, thought I'd said. She's 12.

Depending on her age I think it should be up to her, as long as you’ve made her aware of the consequences of potential injury.

DD broke her wrist playing goalie as one off for her team. Had to do mock GCSEs with it and it's her dominant hand! However that's the only goalie injury I can think of for years and they train as well each week. Just a freak injury. DD didn't go in goal for the rest of the season to avoid it happening in the real exams! Don't think I'd stop her in your position though.

I don't think it's a bad idea to ask her to move to another position. But I'm biased because a mate of mine is a semi-professional musician who couldn't play for months on end after an ill-considered save in a casual kickabout fractured a finger. He's never going to be quite the same again.

Such accidents can occur doing any sport, though. I fell and broke my arm playing hockey aged 14.

Whatever her elite sport is, she's very likely to incur injuries doing it.

@ouch44 I assumed those who play football for a team and have experience will also be taught the correct techniques to save a ball safely? DD has never had football lessons of any kind.

She is 12 you cant pin all your hopes on her boxing forever she might want to switch to football want to find a team to play in, would you be OK with this?

I broke my arm simply falling over in PE at school.

I think you’re being OTT.

I suppose that even if she had played outside goal, she could have been tackled a bit harder than anticipated and fallen and broken her wrist, so I think it's just one of those things that if she wants to play with others at break she should.

Goalie gloves

But don't forbid her to play.

My DD spent a no of years being a goalie and had to wear goalie gloves.

You can get them from any high street sports store for £10-20