As Cobb County families head into fall sports season — football, soccer, tennis, cheerleading, volleyball, and cross country — young athletes face a surge in preventable foot and ankle injuries. Because children have open growth plates and rapidly changing feet, conditions like Sever's disease, ankle sprains, stress fractures, turf toe, and Achilles tightness can't simply be shrugged off as "normal soreness." Early evaluation by a podiatrist in Marietta, GA prevents minor issues from becoming season-ending problems. Proper cleat fit, sport-specific stretching, and gradual conditioning are the three most important prevention strategies every parent can start right now.
Every August, a familiar scene plays out across East Cobb and Marietta: car lines at Pope, Walton, Sprayberry, and Lassiter stretching around the block on the first day of fall practice. Equipment bags are packed, new cleats are still stiff, and a season's worth of excitement is palpable. For many families, the biggest concern going into August is the Georgia heat. But at Podiatry Group of Georgia, the first weeks of fall practice mark the beginning of our busiest stretch of the year for youth sports injuries.
The transition from summer to a structured practice schedule puts tremendous, sudden stress on a young athlete's feet and ankles — structures that are still actively developing. The good news is that most of the injuries we see are predictable and largely preventable with the right information. This guide is written specifically for Cobb County parents whose children are heading into football, soccer, tennis, cheerleading, volleyball, or cross country this fall.
Common Youth Foot & Ankle Injuries — By Sport
Not all sports create the same injury patterns. Understanding which conditions are most common in your child's sport helps you know what to watch for during the season.
Ankle Sprains & Turf Toe
Lateral cuts, contact tackles, and playing on artificial turf make football players the most common patients we see for ankle sprains and turf toe — a sprain of the big toe joint from forced hyperextension on hard turf surfaces. Both injuries are frequently undertreated and can lead to chronic instability if not properly managed.
Stress Fractures & Achilles Tendinitis
Distance runners who ramp up mileage quickly are highly susceptible to metatarsal stress fractures and Achilles tendinitis. These are repetitive-stress overuse injuries. Pain that worsens progressively over days and weeks — rather than appearing suddenly — is the hallmark sign.
Ankle Sprains from Landing
Jump landings after blocks and spikes are the number one mechanism for ankle sprains in volleyball. Landing on another player's foot causes rapid inversion and overstretching of the lateral ankle ligaments — the same mechanism seen across multiple court sports.
Sever's Disease & Plantar Fascia Strain
The repetitive impact of tumbling, stunting, and jumping on hard gym floors places intense loading on the heel growth plate (calcaneal apophysis) in middle school-aged cheerleaders, making Sever's disease a very frequent diagnosis. Plantar fascia strain is also common in athletes who practice in minimally cushioned shoes.
Sever's Disease, Ankle Sprains & Cleat Pressure
The constant running, sudden changes of direction, and repetitive kicking in soccer place significant stress on the heel growth plate (Sever's disease) and ankle ligaments. Furthermore, the low-profile cushioning and narrow fit of soccer cleats often exacerbate heel pain and can cause painful ingrown toenails.
Ankle Sprains, Tennis Toe & Stress Fractures
Very popular in East Cobb fall ALTA junior leagues, tennis requires constant hard court pivoting, sprinting, and sudden stopping. This increases the risk of lateral ankle sprains, stress fractures of the metatarsals, and "tennis toe" (micro-trauma under the toenail causing bleeding, bruising, and nail damage from toes jamming forward).
Why Growing Feet Are Different — And More Vulnerable
One of the most important concepts for any sports parent to understand is that a child's foot is not simply a smaller adult foot. Bone growth in children and adolescents occurs through growth plates — zones of cartilage near the ends of long bones and at heel attachment points that are significantly softer and more injury-prone than fully mineralized adult bone.
This has critical implications for sports:
- A force that sprains an adult ligament can fracture a child's growth plate. This is why significant ankle trauma in a young athlete always warrants professional evaluation and imaging rather than a simple watch-and-wait approach.
- Bones and tendons grow at different rates during puberty. Bone often grows faster than the surrounding calf muscles and Achilles tendon, creating tightness and pulling on the heel growth plate — the exact mechanism behind Sever's disease.
- Foot size can change a half size or more every few months. Cleats or athletic shoes that fit in June may be too tight by August — and a narrow toe box increases the risk of ingrown toenails, blisters, metatarsal compression, and stress injuries.
For a deeper look at how we approach foot conditions specific to children and adolescents across all ages and activity levels, see our detailed Parent's Guide to Pediatric Foot Care, which covers Sever's disease, pediatric flat feet, plantar warts, and more.
4 Practical Injury Prevention Tips for Fall Sports
Check Footwear & Cleats Before Every Season
Verify that cleats fit with a thumb's width of space at the toe and feel snug — not tight — across the midfoot. Worn studs and compressed midsoles provide significantly less protection and stability than they did when new. For sport-specific guidance, our team at sports injury services can recommend footwear characteristics appropriate for your child's foot type and sport.
Establish a Daily Calf & Achilles Stretching Routine
Tight calf muscles are one of the most consistent contributing factors to Sever's disease, plantar fasciitis, and Achilles tendinitis in young athletes. A consistent calf stretch — standing wall stretches and seated towel stretches for the Achilles — performed twice daily (morning and after practice) takes less than five minutes and meaningfully reduces loading on the heel growth plate and posterior chain.
Consider Ankle Bracing for High-Risk Athletes
Athletes with a prior ankle sprain history — or those playing high-lateral-force sports like football and volleyball — benefit significantly from prophylactic lace-up ankle bracing during practice and competition. Ankle bracing does not weaken muscles; when used appropriately, it reduces re-sprain risk without impairing performance. Ask our team which brace type is appropriate for your child's sport and injury history.
Build Back to Full Practice Intensity Gradually
Most fall sports injuries in the first two weeks occur because athletes go from minimal summer activity directly into double sessions or high-mileage cross country training. A two-to-three week progressive conditioning period — even if it means lighter participation in early practices — is the single most effective way to prevent overuse injuries like stress fractures and Achilles tendinitis before the season formally begins.
Warning Signs: Rest at Home vs. See a Podiatrist
Not every foot ache needs a clinic visit, but some signs should never be ignored in a growing athlete. Use this guide to help make the call.
| Symptom / Situation | ✓ Rest at Home | ⚕ See a Podiatrist |
|---|---|---|
| Ankle soreness after practice | Mild, improves with rest and ice within 24–48 hours, able to bear full weight | Cannot bear weight, significant swelling/bruising, or pain persists beyond 3–5 days |
| Heel pain in a child aged 8–15 | Mild, sporadic ache that fully resolves with rest | Persistent heel pain during or after activity, limping during or after practice |
| Foot pain that worsens over weeks | — | Always see a podiatrist — this pattern is classic for a stress fracture |
| Big toe pain after impact on turf | Mild tenderness, no swelling, full range of motion | Swollen big toe joint, pain with push-off or walking — possible turf toe or growth plate injury |
| Repeat ankle sprains (same ankle) | — | Always see a podiatrist — chronic instability requires clinical management to prevent long-term damage |
About Your Clinician: Dr. Neha Delvadia, DPM is a board-certified diplomate of the American Board of Podiatric Medicine (ABPM) and a Wellstar Health System clinical partner, serving patients of all ages from our Marietta, GA office on Johnson Ferry Road. She regularly treats youth athletes from Pope, Walton, Lassiter, and Sprayberry high schools and is a proud official sponsor of Pope High School Football, Sprayberry High School Football, and Lassiter High School.
Serving East Cobb & Marietta Youth Athletes
Youth sports injuries across the Cobb County area are something our team sees daily. As a pediatric sports podiatrist in Cobb County, Dr. Delvadia is deeply embedded in the local athletic community. Beyond treating individual patients, Podiatry Group of Georgia is an official sponsor of Pope High School Football, Sprayberry High School Football, and Lassiter High School, and supports the student athletes at Murdock and Tritt Elementary Schools. We regularly see young athletes from Walton High School, Sprayberry High School, and Lassiter High School for both acute injuries and preventive consultations before the season begins.
If your child is starting fall practice and you have concerns about their foot health — whether it's a pre-existing condition, a fit issue with new cleats, or early signs of heel pain — we encourage you to come in before the season escalates a small problem into a big one. Same-week appointments are available for youth athletes throughout East Cobb and Marietta.