Abstract
ObjectiveInvestigate the incidence and burden of injuries by age group in youth football (soccer) academy players during four consecutive seasons.MethodsAll injuries that caused time-loss or required medical attention (as per...
Highlights
Elite youth soccer academies across the world exist to support young players becoming professional players.(1, 2) Talented children and adolescent athletes are a unique population and require a safe, adapted and developmental coaching program including appropriate illness and injury surveillance systems.(3) There is a lack of prospective epidemiology studies over consecutive seasons among youth elite football academies around the world including large cohorts.(4) In an English youth academy, Price et al(4) found a rate of 0.8 injuries per player-season for a mean time-loss of 9 days per player-season, while Le Gall et al(5) in elite youth French players observed a rate of 2.2 injuries per player-season for a mean time-loss of 32 days per player-season
Injuries not sustained in the context of the soccer programme, or any data related to sickness or other general medical conditions were excluded from this study
All age-groups from under 9 (U-9) to U-18 were observed over four seasons, while the U-19 group over one season only
Summary
Elite youth soccer academies across the world exist to support young players becoming professional players.(1, 2) Talented children and adolescent athletes are a unique population and require a safe, adapted and developmental coaching program including appropriate illness and injury surveillance systems.(3) There is a lack of prospective epidemiology studies over consecutive seasons among youth elite football academies around the world including large cohorts.(4) In an English youth academy, Price et al(4) found a rate of 0.8 injuries per player-season for a mean time-loss of 9 days per player-season, while Le Gall et al(5) in elite youth French players observed a rate of 2.2 injuries per player-season for a mean time-loss of 32 days per player-season. From different academies in Belgium, Brazil, England, Netherlands, Spain, and Uruguay, a rate between 0.7 to 1.3 injuries per player-season with a mean time-loss ranging from 16 to 29 days per player-season have been reported.(6-13) The limited depth jeopardises the scientific and clinical understanding of injury prevention, examination, rehabilitation, and long-term consequences of severe injuries and much could be learnt from other more experienced paediatric health care providers.(14-18) More detailed and precise prospective investigations are required using diagnoses that are specific to children and adolescents. Injuries not sustained in the context of the soccer programme, or any data related to sickness or other general medical conditions were excluded from this study
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