Fortunately for the 41-year-old from Thirroul, her team captain Sharni Barton was trained in first aid and quickly applied pressure to the wound and stopped play to keep her still.

That action stopped the skin from tearing further, Mrs Broadhead was later told by the nurse who applied internal and external stitches to the cut.

‘’Our team, Avondale, were playing against Wests in April and I was on the post left of the keeper, when the ball deflected off her boot and hit me straight above my left eye,’’ she said.

‘’I put my hand up to my face and when I pulled it away, it was full of blood.

‘’Fortunately Sharni has first aid training and she applied a towel and pressure to the cut, and kept me still until the paramedics arrived.

‘’The nurse practitioner at Wollongong Hospital carefully stitched me up and made sure I put ice on regularly – and it was her efforts combined with Sharni’s that ensured my scar wasn’t worse.’’

The incident is one of many serious sporting injuries recorded in the region – and across the state – this winter sports season.

In the year to May 31, paramedics were called to 1344 sports-related injuries across NSW – with a total of 5003 cases since January 1, 2015.

Hunter New England recorded the highest number of cases over this 17-month period with 810; followed by the Illawarra/South West Sydney region with 765 cases.

Among those was 26-year-old maths teacher Antony Stott, who tragically died after collapsing at Thirroul’s Thomas Gibson Park on July 16 while playing soccer.

The serious incidents of cardiac arrest, spinal injuries and loss of consciousness – mainly from football codes, hockey and netball – have prompted NSW Ambulance to issue first aid advice.

NSW Ambulance Chief Superintendent Alan Morrison said many bystanders had been placed in the position of dealing with an emergency until paramedics arrived.

He advised that if a person loses consciousness, the airway should be checked to ensure it is open and the patient is breathing normally.

‘’If breathing normally, place the patient in the recovery position. If not breathing normally, commence CPR. For head, neck or spinal/back injuries, do not move the patient. If the airway is compromised, carefully place the patient on their side, supporting the head.’’

As for Mrs Broadhead – off to the Masters state championships on Friday – the incident won’t deter her, but she will take a little extra care.

‘’I’ve played hockey for 30 years and this is my first serious injury. But I might wear my face mask more often.’’

Chief Supt Morrison said sports injuries took only a fraction of a second to occur, but could impact on an entire season and even a sporting career.

‘’Paramedics are called to hundreds of sporting venues around the state on a regular basis for injuries which can often be avoided,” he said.

In terms of age, most injuries recorded in the period were for those aged 11 to 20 (2813), followed by 21 to 30 years (860); and 417 for those aged up to 10 years.

Further NSW Ambulance advice in the event of sport injury:

Prevention is better than cure – how to guard against injury: