NetballSmart, Implementation of a National Injury Prevention Program

Abstract

Reducing lower-limb injuries in netball, particularly anterior cruciate ligament injuries, is a priority. The Accident Compensation Corporation (a no-fault national insurance system) partnered with Netball New Zealand to create the “NetballSmart” injury prevention program. Targeted research informed the successful implementation, dissemination, and adoption of the injury prevention program. Research included a nationwide epidemiological study, video analysis investigating netball injury risk maneuvers, and intervention studies exploring the effectiveness of injury prevention program warm-up resources on physical capability in youth netball. An identified spike in ankle-knee injury incidence of school-age netball players at season start and prior to tournaments along with a high overall prevalence within these ages led to the creation of age-specific educational workshops and resources focused on effective preparation, skill transition, strengthening, and balance. Observational video analysis highlighted behaviors that potentially increased the risk of anterior cruciate ligament injury and a progressive landing skills program was developed. The NetballSmart Dynamic Warm-up and Power Warm-up significantly improved player physical capability. Consequently, time to perform the Power Warm-up before all games at a national intermediate school tournament was incorporated into competition-time, reducing workload by 25%. A targeted social media and ambassador endorsement plan increased performance of the NetballSmart Dynamic Warm-up/Power Warm-up by 14% prior to games and 15% before trainings nationally. Accident Compensation Corporation injury data between 2018 and 2022 showed a 6,050 (32%) reduction of all body site and a 2,968 (33%) decrease of combined ankle-knee injury claims. Similarly, by 2021 there was a 11% decrease in fractures/dislocations, a 13% decrease in soft tissue injuries, and a 9% decrease in anterior cruciate ligament surgical repairs. During this delivery period, Accident Compensation Corporation reported that the whole of life returns on investment was NZD$4.10, for every dollar funded to the NetballSmart Injury Prevention Programme.