Injuries in Youth Football

Abstract

1885 PURPOSE: To estimate injury rates and variation in injury by grade, severity, type and position in a youth football population. Surveys of youth participants generally lack suitable exposure data for practices and competitions to permit estimates of injury rates. METHODS: Participants (n = 354, 9–14 years) in two community youth football leagues in mid-Michigan were followed throughout a single season, mid-August through October. Grade in school was the unit of competition. A certified athletic trainer was on sight for practices and home games to record exposure statistics and injuries as they occurred; injuries occurring in road games were reported by coaches and verified the next day by the trainers. The sample was split into younger (4–6th grades) and older (7–8th grades) groups for analysis. RESULTS: Estimated injury rates were significantly higher in 7–8th (16.2/1000 athlete exposures) compared to 4–6th (7.5/1000 athlete exposures) grades (p<0.001). Among 7–8th grade players, defensive linemen and defensive backs had a significantly higher frequency of injuries compared to respective positions in the 4th-6th grade players (p = .014). There were no significant differences in injuries by severity and type and in severity by position between the 4–6th and 7–8th grades. General trauma constituted 40% of all injuries (50% in 4–6th and 36% in 7–8th grades), and the majority of injuries were classified as minor (80% in 4–6th and 72% in 7–8th grades). CONCLUSIONS: Estimated injury rates increase with grade and probably age. Most injuries in youth football are minor and similarly distributed between grades. There are no clear trends in the distribution of injuries by type and in severity by position. Supported by the National Athletic Trainers' Association Foundation (Grant Number 300R001) and a Wohlgamuth Fellowship at Michigan State University.