The incidence and burden of injuries in elite English youth female soccer players

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to investigate the incidence, severity and burden of injury in English elite youth female soccer players. Qualified therapists at six English girls’ academies prospectively recorded all injuries that required medical attention or caused time loss for matches and training in 375 elite youth female soccer players (under-10 [U10], U12, U14 and U16) during the 2019/2020 season. One hundred- and eleven time-loss injuries (52 from training, 59 from matches) were sustained, resulting in 1,946 days absent (779 days from training injuries, 1,167 days from match injuries) from soccer activities. The injury incidence for matches (9.3/1000 hours, 95% CIs: 7.2–11.9) was significantly greater than training (1.1/1000 hours, 95% CIs: 0.9–1.5, p < 0.001). Additionally, the injury burden for matches (183 days lost/1000 hours, 95% CIs: 142–237) was significantly greater than training (17 days lost/1000 hours, 95% CIs: 13–22, p < 0.001). Injury incidence and burden were greatest in the U16 age group and were found to increase with age. Whilst injury incidence and burden are greater in matches than training, a large proportion of preventable injuries, soft-tissue and non-contact in nature, were sustained in training. Findings provide comparative data for elite youth female soccer players.

KEYWORDS:

• Female
• soccer
• injury
• epidemiology
• burden

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the medical staff at each of the Regional Talent Clubs who participated in the study.

Contributorship

JB, SE and SY were involved in the original concept of the study. All data collection was achieved/supervised by JB, SY and PB. The data analysis was completed by JB with supervision from SW and KS. All tables and figures were designed by JB. JB drafted the original manuscript and KS, BJ, RK, PB, SW and SE provided critical feedback and comments in refining the final submission version.

Data Sharing Statement

The data used to produce the current manuscript is private medical data, and therefore it cannot be shared.

Disclosure statement

JB is funded by Leeds Beckett University and the Football Association. The remaining authors have no competing interests to declare..

Ethical Approval Information

Ethics approval was granted by Leeds Beckett University

Patient and Public Involvement Statement

Individual informed consent from academy officials and parents as well as player assent was obtained prior to the start of the study

Additional information

Funding

This project was match funded by Leeds Beckett University and the Football Association.