Heel pain in adolescent footballers
If your child plays football and has started complaining of heel pain, especially after training or games, one common cause is Sever’s disease. Despite the name, it is not an infection and it is not a dangerous disease in the way many parents first imagine. It is a common growth-related heel pain condition that affects active children, particularly those who run, sprint, jump and change direction frequently.
For junior footballers, that makes it extremely common.
Many parents notice the same pattern. Their child is fine at the start of the season, then training volume builds, a growth spurt arrives, the grounds get firmer, or there are multiple matches in a short period, and suddenly the child starts limping after football. Sometimes they only mention it casually at first. Then a week later they are avoiding sprinting, asking to come off early, or saying their boots hurt.
What is Sever’s disease?
Sever’s disease is irritation of the growth plate at the back of the heel bone. In children, the heel bone is still developing. During growth spurts, bones can grow quickly while the calf muscles and Achilles tendon remain relatively tight. When a child runs, jumps and kicks repeatedly, the Achilles tendon places tension through the back of the heel, and that sensitive growth area can become painful.
This commonly affects children around 8 to 14 years old, especially during busy sporting periods.
Why is it common in football?
Football places repeated load through the heel. Young players are constantly:
sprinting after the ball
stopping and starting quickly
changing direction
jumping and landing
kicking with force
training several times each week
sometimes also playing school sport or futsal on top of club football
When this load increases faster than the body can adapt, heel pain can develop.
What does it feel like?
Parents often notice that their child:
complains of pain at the back or underside of the heel
limps after training or games
is sore first thing in the morning
says football boots feel uncomfortable
struggles more after tournaments or back-to-back activity days
improves a bit with rest, then flares again as soon as football volume picks up
Some children keep trying to play through it, but you may notice they run differently, avoid pushing off properly, or seem less confident when sprinting.
A simple way to picture it
Diagram idea:
Show the calf muscle and Achilles tendon pulling down onto the back of the heel bone
Highlight the heel growth plate in a contrasting colour
Caption: “During growth spurts, repeated running and kicking can overload the heel growth plate.”
Is it dangerous?
The reassuring news is that Sever’s disease usually settles well and does not normally cause long-term damage. The difficult part is that it can become stubborn if it is ignored. When children keep playing through significant heel pain without modifying load, the irritation can continue for weeks or months.
That is why early treatment is helpful. The sooner it is identified, the easier it usually is to settle.
What should parents do first?
The aim is not always to stop football completely. In many cases, the better approach is to reduce the aggravating load while keeping the child active in a way that does not keep flaring the heel.
Early steps often include:
temporarily reducing running volume
limiting extra football sessions for a short period
checking whether boots are too flat or unsupportive
using ice after activity if it helps with comfort
considering heel raises or heel cups where appropriate
starting calf stretching and strengthening work
avoiding the temptation to simply “push through it”
How physiotherapy helps
This is where a proper physiotherapy assessment is valuable. We do not just look at the painful heel. We assess the bigger picture, including:
calf tightness
ankle mobility
lower limb strength
training load across club, school and other sport
footwear and playing surfaces
running and movement patterns
From there, we create a practical plan that helps your child recover while staying involved in football as much as possible. For some players that means modifying training for a few weeks. For others, it means managing symptoms through a longer growth spurt with a structured strength and recovery plan.
Treatment may include hands-on treatment, calf strengthening, mobility work, load management advice, taping or heel support recommendations, and a gradual return-to-running and return-to-football progression.
When should you get it checked?
Book an assessment if:
heel pain lasts more than a few days
your child is limping
they are asking to come off or skip training
symptoms keep returning
they have pain in both heels and everyday activity is becoming difficult
you are not sure whether it is Sever’s disease or another foot or ankle problem
Not every sore heel is Sever’s disease, so it is worth getting the diagnosis right.
Can it be prevented?
Not always completely, because growth spurts are a normal part of childhood and football is a demanding sport. But the risk can often be reduced by:
avoiding sudden spikes in training load
monitoring busy periods with multiple games
using supportive footwear
maintaining calf strength and mobility
encouraging recovery between sessions
addressing heel soreness early instead of waiting until the child is limping
The bottom line
Sever’s disease is common in young footballers, especially during growth spurts. It is frustrating, but it is very manageable with the right plan. Early assessment can stop a small problem from becoming a long and disruptive one.
If your child from Rockdale Ilinden is complaining of heel pain, our physiotherapy team can help work out whether it is Sever’s disease, calm it down, and guide a safe return to training and games and remember all club members get a 20% discount on all Physiotherapy services at Aevum.