Injuries are negatively associated with player progression in an elite football academy

ABSTRACT

Background

The aim was to investigate the association of injuries with male football player continuity, progression and chances of reaching the First team in an elite academy.

Methods

Injuries and exposure time were prospectively recorded, following the FIFA guidelines, over 6 seasons (2011–2017) in Under (U)12, U14, U16, U19, 2nd/3rd team and First team players from the same professional football club.

Results

U19 and 2nd/3rd team players progressing to the next level had a lower injury burden and higher match availability compared to players that did not progress. Injury burden was lower in players progressing from U12 to U14. All players progressing from the 2nd/3rd teams to the First team had a match availability higher than 84% and did not suffer an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture or an injury requiring over 200 (+200) days to return to play. In U19 and 2nd/3rd team players, injuries requiring +100 and +200 days to return to play, ACL ruptures and groin pain, but not hamstring and ankle ligament injuries, were associated with lower odds of continuing in the academy each season.

Conclusion

Injuries were negatively associated with player progression, and injury prevention and return-to-play strategies should be a priority for football academies.

KEYWORDS:

• Soccer
• development
• success
• young

Acknowledgements

JL was supported by a PhD Studentship from the Vice-Chancellorship for Basque of the University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU (Euskararen arloko Errektoreordetza). IB acknowledges financial support from the Basque Government (IT620-13). SMG acknowledges financial support from the Basque Government (IT922-16) and the University of the Basque Country (PPG17/34).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Funding

No funding is associated with this study.