The world of soccer is immensely growing in the state of Alabama and with the exposure of professional teams like the Birmingham Legion, Central Alabama youth soccer associations are expanding more than ever.
The Birmingham United Soccer Association (BUSA) recently hosted the largest youth sporting event in Alabama history, entitled “Birmingham Bash 2022.” This youth soccer tournament is held annually by BUSA, running for 15 years consecutively. The event lasted three days, beginning Friday, Sept. 23 and finishing on Sunday, Sept. 25.
Megan Steirer, MA, LAT, ATC, was part of the UAB Sports and Exercise team that covered the BUSA Birmingham Bash 2022.
“With soccer being one of the fastest growing sports in America, it is a great way for us to serve our mission of providing care for the community – and doing so in the community setting,” said Irfan Asif, M.D., a sports medicine physician, chairman of the UAB Department of Family and Community Medicine and associate dean for primary care and rural health. Asif served as medical director for the USFL and the World Games in 2022.
UAB Sports & Exercise Medicine, which also covers the Legion, sponsored “Birmingham Bash 2022”, serving as official medical provider for 550 games. The tournament included approximately 400 athletic teams, based across the U.S. from nine different states. UAB medical staff for the tournament included 11 athletic trainers and clinical specialists. The competition was played at seven distinct areas across the Birmingham metro, including the Dunnavant Valley Fields, Eagles Sports Park in Calera, Heardmont Park, Hoover Met, Mountain Brook High School, Rathmell Sports Park and Veterans Park in Alabaster.
In addition to BUSA, UAB Sports and Exercise Medicine partners with youth soccer associations including the Hoover-Vestavia Soccer Club (HVS), Vestavia Hills Soccer Club (VHSC) and Hoover Soccer Club (HSC). The UAB team offers numerous medical services including assessment of injuries, assessment of illnesses, recommendations of referrals, athletic taping and wound care and access to the vast range of medical resources UAB offers.
“Working with younger athletes is particularly exciting because it gives sports medicine providers a chance to encourage healthy habits early on,” Asif said.
“It allows us to impact athletes at a young age, so that we can try to provide them with lifelong health habits. In addition to the soccer tournament, we provide them with nutrition and mental health strengthening programs.” says Asif. “Our Sports and Exercise Medicine team is geared toward serving not only elite athletes, but also recreational athletes and athletes of all types.”
BUSA athletes, and any athlete or patient that comes to UAB Sports and Exercise Medicine, will get the same level of care offered to the Birmingham Legion, the Birmingham Bulls, the USFL, World Games athletes and any other professional athletic teams UAB covers.