Soccer Enthusiasts Attend Injury-Prevention Clinic

A line of soccer enthusiasts wound out of a white tent erected at North Strabane's municipal park Wednesday—all waiting to register for the DePuy Mitek Sports Injury Prevention clinic.

The air conditioning inside gave youngsters and their parents a reprieve from the heat and humidity during the registration process, while those already inside sat chatting excitedly with their friends.

Some of the kids there even kicked soccer balls among their friends while waiting for the the clinic, hosted by the Pittsburgh Riverhounds Professional Soccer Club and Century United of Pittsburgh Football Club, to begin.

In preparation for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, DePuy Mitek, the official medical provider of the tournament, is sponsoring 16 such clinics around the world aimed at educating young athletes, parents, trainers and coaches on how to prevent sports-related injuries in the game of soccer.

The two-hour clinic was based off Mitek’s “11+,” a complete warm-up program aimed at reducing injuries among male and female soccer players ages 12 years and older.

The clinic consisted of an introduction to the participating physicians and the program, followed by athlete participation in the “11+” warm-up exercises. Athletes then participated in small, age-ranked scrimmages.

While the athletes took part in the exercises, parents, coaches and trainers had the opportunity to follow the program on SONY tablets.

The clinic concluded with an after-party that included refreshments, giveaways, and games. Participants will have a chance to meet Heather Mitts, 2012 gold medalist on the U.S. Women’s Soccer Team, who was also in attendance.

North Strabane Parks and Recreation Director Greg Sulc said more than 100 youngsters attended the clinic.