Abstract
PurposeDescribe the motivation for floorball participation, injury prevention expectations, injury risk perceptions and prevalence of health problems in youth floorball players at the start of the season.MethodsThis cross-sectional survey is part of a larger Sport Without Injury ProgrammE (SWIPE) project and provides baseline data before a cluster randomised controlled trial of an injury prevention program (Knee Control). A baseline survey (online and paper based) was collected from 47 teams with 471 youth floorball players from two provinces of Sweden before the start of the 2017 season.ResultsThe mean age for 140 females and 331 males was 13.7 (± 1.5) and 13.3 (± 1.0) years, respectively. The two most significant motivators for floorball participation were being part of the team (82% females, 75% males) and friends (65% females, 70% males). Fractures (84% females, 90% males), eye injuries (90% females, 83% males) and concussion (82% females, 83% males) were perceived as the most severe injuries. 93% of players believed that sports injuries can be prevented, while 74% believed it is unlikely that they will sustain an injury. Existing health problems at the beginning of the season were prevalent in 33% of players, with 65% being injuries and 35% illnesses. 17% of existing injuries at the start of the season caused time-loss from play and 17% required medical attention.ConclusionSocial aspects were the greatest motivators for floorball participation in youths, suggesting that these factors are important to retain sports participants. The high number of health problems in youth is a concern; as such more effort, resources and priority should be given to sports safety programs. Many players believed that sports injuries can be prevented, possibly providing a fertile ground for implementation of such programs.Level of evidenceIV.
Highlights
The popularity of floorball is increasing globally, and the International Floorball Federation, which is a full member of the International Olympic Committee, has 68 member countries [11]
This study aims to be the first to investigate motivation for floorball participation, injury prevention expectations, injury risk perceptions and prevalence of health problems in youth floorball players at the start of the season
The finding of this study revealed that 33% of non-elite youth floorball players reported a health problem at the beginning of the season extends previous research in Female n = 140 (%) Male n = 331 (%)
Summary
The popularity of floorball is increasing globally, and the International Floorball Federation, which is a full member of the International Olympic Committee, has 68 member countries [11]. Floorball is one of the most popular sports in Sweden, with approximately 124,000 licensed players (81% are under 19 years old, and of these, 24% are female) registered with the Swedish Floorball Federation [11]. Floorball is a non-contact sport played indoors with a light hollow plastic ball and a graphite compound stick. Similar to other pivoting sports, floorball involves sudden acceleration/deceleration, stops, and sharp changes of direction on a hard-playing surface and involves a high risk of injury to the lower limb [18, 22]. The incidence of non-contact injuries to the lower limb was reduced when
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