Tackling Injury Risk in Young Footballers: Navigating injuries throughout adolescence

Injuries are a pressing concern for young athletes, particularly for young athletes involved in sporting academies. These injuries not only restrict playing and training time but can also have enduring physical and psychological effects, potentially leading to athletes dropping out of sports altogether. For young male footballers, the adolescent growth spurt introduces additional risks, making injury prevention strategies crucial for their well-being and development. The most rapid point of growth is known as peak height velocity (PHV), which typically occurs at around 13.8 years old for males.

A recent study conducted by Johnson et al. (2023) aimed to identify and mitigate injury risks in young male academy footballers. The researchers identified three key risk factors: being 88% to 92.8% of predicted adult stature, a growth rate of ≥7.2 cm/year, and leg length increases of ≥3.6 cm/year. These factors were used to pinpoint players at risk and implement targeted intervention strategies.

The three-month intervention program was a comprehensive approach involving modified training loads, football-specific skill training, balance and coordination exercises, landing drills, and personalized strength programs. The results were encouraging, with a significant 86% reduction in injury incidence following the intervention.

A crucial finding was that players with all three risk factors experienced the most substantial decrease in injuries. This underscores the importance of tailoring injury prevention strategies to individual players based on their unique growth patterns and maturity status. Throughout the rapid growth period during adolescence, individuals undergo various changes in limb length, limb mass, and functional capacity. These rapid changes can diminish sensorimotor mechanisms and motor control, increasing the risk of injury.

Despite the positive outcomes, the study had some limitations, including being a sample from one football club and the interruption of the second season due to the Covid-19 outbreak. However, the interdisciplinary collaboration between technical coaches, sports scientists, and medical staff highlights the significance of a holistic approach to injury prevention in young athletes.

In conclusion, addressing injury risks during the adolescent growth spurt is paramount for the well-being, performance, and retention of young footballers. These findings could potentially be utilised in other sports. By identifying and mitigating these risks through targeted interventions, clubs can help young athletes stay healthy and realize their full potential on the field.

References:

Johnson, D., Williams, S., Bradley, B., & Cumming, S. P. (2023). Can we reduce injury risk during the adolescent growth spurt? An iterative sequence of prevention in male academy footballers. Annals of human biology, 50(1), 452-460.

Adirim, T. A., & Cheng, T. L. (2003). Overview of injuries in the young athlete. Sports medicine, 33, 75-81.

Hawkins, D. A. V. I. D., & Metheny, J. E. F. F. (2001). Overuse injuries in youth sports: biomechanical considerations. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 33(10), 1701-1707.