A Prediction Model for the Prevention of Youth Football Injuries

Football (Soccer) is arguably the most popular sport in the international sporting arena. There are some professional Football Clubs who contract development players at 16 years of age in preparation for playing in their senior sides and these young players should be well looked after, to ensure a long career playing football. Being able to predict injuries at a young age and prevent them would be of great value to the football community and increase the length of a player's career. This research study succeeded in creating a prediction model for non-contact youth football injuries based on a pre-season biomechanical-, plyometric- and proprioceptive evaluation along with utilising a previous injury history questionnaire. It was further possible to create a prediction model for non contact hip and groin injuries, specifically. Using the hip and groin prediction model, combined with the global injury prediction model, injuries in youth football players can be predicted. The book also contains epidemiological data for football injuries in a cohort of youth players in club and school teams.