Football remains the most popular sport in the world. Although known as soccer in the United States, it is known around the world as association football, or simply football. It is currently played by approximately 250 million people in over two hundred countries. The sport involves two teams with eleven members on each team. Teams must score goals with a spherical ball by passing the ball from player to player. However, players are not allowed to touch the ball with their hands. Rather, they must use other parts of the body, such as elbows, knees, feet, and even the head to pass the ball from player to player (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2014). Because the sport involves running, jumping, and other physical activities, it is associated with a wide variety of injuries. This article will focus on the most common football injuries, how they occur and how they are treated. Common Football Injuries Like all sports, football produces a number of common injuries. These injuries are related to the running, jumping and hitting associated with the sport. The most common injuries associated with the sport include sprains and strains of the lower extremities. It is important to distinguish what is a sprain and what is a strain. A sprain is an injury to a joint. It normally results in the ligaments in the joint being stretched beyond their normal capacity. A ligament is a type of fibrous tissue that connects bones with other bones. A strain is an injury to a muscle. It is more commonly referred to as a “tight muscle.” Depending on the severity of the muscle strain, muscle fibers and tissues may actually be torn. Of course, all muscle strains and joint sprains have varying degrees of severity. Varying levels of severity associate...... half of document ......However, dislocations still require a period of rest to ensure that the ligaments and tendons can heal properly. Fractures are usually “fixed” with a cast. Obviously, this requires a significant period of time before the person can practice the sport again. An anterior cruciate ligament injury normally requires surgery. The person will also have to take a serious break from sports. A person should not play football again or engage in any physical activity after a serious injury until a doctor has cleared the person to do so (Stop Sports Injuries, n.d.). Conclusion Football is the most popular sport in the world. Being a contact sport, it often leads to injuries in its players. These injuries include sprains, strains, fractures, and minor injuries. A common injury is a tear of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) of the knee. While some injuries only require a period of rest, other injuries require surgery.