Foot morphology and foot/ankle injury in indoor football. Assessment of player performance following return to sport after hamstring muscle strain injury. Preventing knee injuries in adolescent female football players – design of a cluster randomized controlled trial [NCT00894595] Performance aspects of an injury prevention program: a ten-week intervention in adolescent female football players. Non-participation in sports injury research: why football players choose not to be involved The relationship between pre-season fitness testing and injury in elite junior Australian football players. High adherence to a neuromuscular injury prevention programme (FIFA 11+) improves functional balance and reduces injury risk in Canadian youth female football players: a cluster randomised trial Effects of an anterior cruciate ligament injury prevention program on performance in adolescent female soccer players. Rationale and study protocol for the 'active teen leaders avoiding screen-time' (ATLAS) group randomized controlled trial: an obesity prevention intervention for adolescent boys from schools in low-income communities. Multivariate modelling of subjective and objective monitoring data improve the detection of non-contact injury risk in elite Australian footballers. Muscle strength and soccer practice as major determinants of bone mineral density in adolescents. The Effects of the Gaelic Athletic Association 15 Training Program on Neuromuscular Outcomes in Gaelic Football and Hurling Players: A Randomized Cluster Trial Association between post-game recovery protocols, physical and perceived recovery, and performance in elite Australian Football League players. Maturity-associated variation in the growth and functional capacities of youth football (soccer) players 13–15 years Low-Active Male Adolescents: A Dose Response to High-Intensity Interval Training. The Adductor Strengthening Programme prevents groin problems among male football players: a cluster-randomised controlled trial Volume of physical activity and injury occurrence in young basketball players. Prophylactic misuse and recommended use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs by athletes
While the pronated foot is implicated as a risk factor for sports injury in some studies , others suggest that a supinated foot posture increases the risk of overuse lower limb injuries . Athletes in a given sports discipline may tend to have a similar foot morphology , which varies from that observed elsewhere . Further , the foot morphology that is beneficial for performance in a sport may be detrimental with regard to injury . Intra- and inter-rater reliability of the Foot Posture Index ( FPI-6 )  as a measure of foot morphology was determined ( ICC ( 2,1 ) 0.88 and 0.69 respectively ) . Thereafter , in a prospect i ve cohort study using the FPI-6 , 76 adolescent male indoor football ( Futsal ) players were measured and followed monthly over one competition season . Coach-rated ability and reports of any overuse injuries at the ankle and /or foot over this period were obtained . A significant negative linear relationship was found between the mean FPI-6 scores and coach-rated ability ( p=0.008 ) , with supinated and under-pronated postures related to higher ability level . Overall , 33 % of injuries at the ankle and /or foot were classified as overuse . Foot Posture Index scores of less than 2 , indicating the supinated and under-pronated feet , were found to be associated with a significant increase in the risk of overuse injury ( p=0.008 ) . The greater rigidity of these foot types may assist adolescent , male , indoor football players to perform at a higher level in their sport . Unfortunately , these players are also more likely to sustain ankle and /or foot overuse injuries OBJECTIVE To determine if there is any decrease in playing performance of athletes following return to sport after recovery from hamstring muscle strain injury . DESIGN Prospect i ve cohort study . PARTICIPANTS One professional Australian football team over two playing seasons . METHODS For every game , the team coach rated player performance proportional to time spent on the ground playing ( an integer score out of a maximum of 10 ) . Player performance ratings were compared pre- and post-hamstring muscle strain injury to assess player performance upon return to sport . RESULTS Thirteen athletes had hamstring injuries and the required player ratings were available . The mean player performance rating for the entire playing season in which the player was injured was 6.9 . The mean player performance rating for the two games prior to injury was 6.8 as opposed to 5.4 for the two games after return to sport . Athletes had a significantly lower player performance rating immediately upon return to sport when compared to ratings for the entire season ( p<0.001 ) and when compared to ratings from the two games prior to injury ( p<0.001 ) . CONCLUSIONS Following return to sport from hamstring injury , player performance as assessed by the team coach is reduced . This suggests that some athletes may return to sport prior to complete resolution of the injury Background Knee injuries in football are common regardless of age , gender or playing level , but adolescent females seem to have the highest risk . The consequences after severe knee injury , for example anterior cruciate ligament ( ACL ) injury , are well-known , but less is known about knee injury prevention . We have design ed a cluster r and omized controlled trial ( RCT ) to evaluate the effect of a warm-up program aim ed at preventing acute knee injury in adolescent female football . Methods In this cluster r and omized trial 516 teams ( 309 clusters ) in eight regional football districts in Sweden with female players aged 13–17 years were r and omized into an intervention group  ( 260 teams ) or a  control group  ( 256 teams ) . The teams in the intervention group were instructed to do a structured warm-up program at two training sessions per week throughout the 2009 competitive season ( April to October ) and those in the control group were informed to train and play as usual . Sixty-eight sports physical therapists are assigned to the clubs to assist both groups in data collection and to examine the players ' acute knee injuries during the study period . Three different forms are used in the trial : ( 1 ) baseline player data form collected at the start of the trial , ( 2 ) computer-based registration form collected every month , on which one of the coaches/team leaders documents individual player exposure , and ( 3 ) injury report form on which the study therapists report acute knee injuries result ing in time loss from training or match play . The primary outcome is the incidence of ACL injury and the secondary outcomes are the incidence of any acute knee injury ( except contusion ) and incidence of severe knee injury ( defined as injury result ing in absence of more than 4 weeks ) . Outcome measures are assessed after the end of the 2009 season . Discussion Prevention of knee injury is beneficial for players , clubs , insurance companies , and society . If the warm-up program is proven to be effective in reducing the incidence of knee injury , it can have a major impact by reducing the future knee injury burden in female football as well as the negative long-term disabilities associated with knee injury . Trial registration The injury rate in football is high , and effective injury prevention methods are needed . An exercise program , the " 11 , " has been design ed to prevent the most common injury types in football . However , the effect of such a program on performance is not known . The aim of this r and omized-controlled trial was to investigate the effect of the " 11 " on performance after a 10-week training period . Thirty-four adolescent female football players were r and omly assigned to either an intervention ( n=18 ) or a control group ( n=16 ) . The " 11 " is a 15-min program consisting of ten exercises for core stability , lower extremity strength , balance and agility . Performance tests included isokinetic and isometric strength protocol s for the quadriceps and hamstrings , isometric hip adduction and abduction strength , vertical jump tests , sprint running and soccer skill tests . There was no difference between the intervention and control groups in the change in performance from the pre- to post-test for any of the tests used . In conclusion , no effect was observed on a series of performance tests in a group of adolescent female football players using the " 11 "  as a structured warm-up program Objective : To ascertain the reasons behind players not participating in a sports safety research project . Methods : During the preseason , 10 Australian football clubs volunteered 23 teams to participate in a  protective equipment r and omised controlled  trial , the Australian Football Injury Prevention Project ( AFIPP ) . All players from these teams were invited to participate . Players who did not agree to participate in AFIPP were surveyed about their reasons for non-involvement . Results : 110 football players ( response rate 63.6 % ) completed the non-responder survey and cited the two main reasons behind non-involvement in the project as “ I did not know about the project ” ( 39.4 % ) and “ I was not at training when the research team visited ” ( 36.5 % ) . Conclusions and implication s : Preseason may not be the best time for maximal player recruitment in community based sports safety research . Enhanced communication between research ers and players at community level football clubs during the recruitment phase is likely to improve response rates OBJECTIVES Australian Football ( AF ) is a collision sport containing high injury rates in junior competition . Successful performance at the elite junior level not only requires superior specific football knowledge and skills , but also well developed fitness qualities . However , no studies have examined the link between physical fitness qualities and injury in AF . DESIGN Prospect i ve cohort . METHODS Injury data were collected through the use of a Player Movement Record ( PMR ) and a st and ardized Injury Report Form ( IRF ) . Fitness test data was collected during the pre-season of the 2010 and 2011 seasons . RESULTS 382 players consented to participate in the study . The cohort experienced an injury incidence rate of 24.29/st and ardized club ( 40 players/club ) . A faster 5-m sprint was associated with ' injury status ' ( p=0.016 ) and a ' knee ' region ( p≤0.001 ) injury . A faster planned agility score was associated with an increased risk of a ' hip/groin/thigh ' region ( p=0.010 ) injury , and specifically a ' quadriceps strain ' ( p=0.005 ) . A lower 20-m shuttle run was associated with an increased risk of a ' shin/ankle/foot ' ( p=0.045 ) injury . Increased injury severity was associated with a higher left foot running vertical jump ( VJ ) ( p=0.040 ) , and faster 5-m sprint ( p=0.043 ) . CONCLUSIONS Lower aerobic endurance , faster 5-m acceleration and greater planned agility were associated with an increased risk of various injury types in elite junior AF players . Furthermore , a higher left foot running VJ and faster 5-m acceleration were associated with injury severity . These results may largely relate to a greater work capacity placing a higher load upon the musculoskeletal system in contact and non-contact situations Background A protective effect on injury risk in youth sports through neuromuscular warm-up training routines has consistently been demonstrated . However , there is a paucity of information regarding the quantity and quality of coach-led injury prevention programmes and its impact on the physical performance of players . Objective The aim of this cluster-r and omised controlled trial was to assess whether different delivery methods of an injury prevention programme ( FIFA 11 + ) to coaches could improve player performance , and to examine the effect of player adherence on performance and injury risk . Method During the 2011 football season ( May – August ) , coaches of 31 tiers 1–3 level teams were introduced to the 11 + through either an unsupervised website or a coach-focused workshop with and without additional on-field supervisions . Playing exposure , adherence to the 11 + , and injuries were recorded for female 13-year-old to 18-year-old players . Performance testing included the Star Excursion Balance Test ( SEBT ) , single-leg balance , triple hop and jumping-over-a-bar tests . Results Complete preseason and postseason performance tests were available for 226 players ( 66.5 % ) . Compared to the unsupervised group , single-leg balance ( OR=2.8 ; 95 % CI 1.1 to 4.6 ) and the anterior direction of the SEBT improved significantly in the onfield supervised group of players ( OR=4.7 ; 95 % CI 2.2 to 7.1 ) , while 2-leg jumping performance decreased ( OR=−5.1 ; 95 % CI −9.9 to −0.2 ) . However , significant improvements in 5 of 6 reach distances in the SEBT were found , favouring players who highly adhered to the 11 + . Also , injury risk was lower for those players ( injury rate ratio , IRR=0.28 , 95 % CI 0.10 to 0.79 ) . Conclusions Different delivery methods of the FIFA 11 + to coaches influenced players ’ physical performance minimally . However , high player adherence to the 11 + result ed in significant improvements in functional balance and reduced injury risk Female soccer players are three times more likely to suffer a non-contact anterior cruciate ligament ( ACL ) tear compared with male soccer players . Several ACL injury prevention programs have been developed and are used to reduce injury risk . However , to date there is limited information on how such programs affect physical performance . The aim of this r and omized controlled study was to investigate the effects of the Prevent Injury Enhance Performance ( PEP ) program in adolescent female soccer players . Four soccer teams were r and omly assigned to an intervention ( PEP ) or control ( CON ) group and assessed at baseline , 6 weeks , and 12 weeks on  linear sprinting , countermovement jump ( CMJ ) , and two agility tests . A mixed model factorial ANOVA with repeated measures was used to assess for treatment effects on the dependent variables . Improvements in 27.3 and 36.6 m sprint times ( < 0.10 s ) were evident during the first 6 weeks for PEP , but reverted back to baseline values by 12 weeks ; there were no changes for 9.1 or 18.2 m sprint times in either group . There was no change in the CMJ height for PEP ; however , there was a decrement at 6 and 12 weeks compared with baseline in CON . Performance on the Illinois and pro-agility tests declined in both groups . Our findings demonstrate that improvements in linear sprint performance were small and transient in adolescent female soccer players , and that there was no benefit of the PEP program on CMJ or agility performance . ACL injury prevention programs design ed as a structured warm-up routine seem to lack the necessary stimulus to enhance athletic performance INTRODUCTION The negative consequences of unhealthy weight gain and the high likelihood of pediatric obesity tracking into adulthood highlight the importance of targeting youth who are ' at risk ' of obesity . The aim of this paper is to report the rationale and study protocol for the ' Active Teen Leaders Avoiding Screen-time ' ( ATLAS ) obesity prevention intervention  for adolescent boys living in low-income communities . METHODS / DESIGN The ATLAS intervention will be evaluated using a cluster r and omized controlled trial in 14 secondary schools in the state of New South Wales ( NSW ) , Australia ( 2012 to 2014 ) .  ATLAS is an 8-month multi-component , school-based program informed by self-determination theory and social cognitive theory . The intervention consists of teacher professional development , enhanced school-sport sessions , research er-led seminars , lunch-time physical activity mentoring sessions , pedometers for self-monitoring , provision of equipment to schools , parental newsletters , and a smartphone application and website . Assessment s were conducted at baseline and will be completed again at 9- and 18-months from baseline . Primary outcomes are body mass index ( BMI ) and waist circumference . Secondary outcomes include BMI z-scores , body fat ( bioelectrical impedance analysis ) , physical activity ( accelerometers ) , muscular fitness ( grip strength and push-ups ) , screen-time , sugar-sweetened beverage consumption , resistance training skill competency , daytime sleepiness , subjective well-being , physical self-perception , pathological video gaming , and aggression . Hypothesized mediators of behavior change will also be explored . DISCUSSION ATLAS is an innovative school-based intervention design ed to improve the health behaviors and related outcomes of adolescent males in low-income communities OBJECTIVES To assess the association between workload , subjective wellness , musculoskeletal screening measures  and non-contact injury risk in elite Australian footballers . DESIGN Prospect i ve cohort study . METHODS Across 4 seasons in 70 players from one club , cumulative weekly workloads ( acute ; 1 week , chronic ; 2- , 3- , 4-week ) and acute : chronic workload ratio 's ( ACWR : 1-week load/average 4-weekly load ) for session-Rating of Perceived Exertion ( sRPE ) and GPS-derived distance and sprint distance were calculated . Wellness , screening and non-contact injury data were also documented . Univariate and multivariate regression models determined injury incidence rate ratios ( IRR ) while accounting for interaction/moderating effects . Receiver operating characteristics determined model predictive accuracy ( area under curve : AUC ) . RESULTS Very low cumulative chronic ( 2- , 3- , 4- week ) workloads were associated with the greatest injury risk ( univariate IRR=1.71 - 2.16 , 95 % CI=1.10 - 4.52 ) in the subsequent week . In multivariate analysis , the interaction between a low chronic load and a very high distance ( adj-IRR=2.60 , 95 % CI=1.07 - 6.34 ) or low sRPE ACWR ( adj-IRR=2.52 , 95 % CI=1.01 - 6.29 ) was associated with increased injury risk . Subjectively reporting " yes " ( vs. " no " ) for old lower limb pain and heavy non-football activity in the previous 7 days ( multivariate adj-IRR=2.01 - 2.25 , 95 % CI=1.02 - 4.95 ) and playing experience ( > 9 years ) ( multivariate adj-IRR=2.05 , 95 % CI=1.03 - 4.06 ) was also associated with increased injury risk , but screening data were not . Predictive capacity of multivariate models was significantly better than univariate ( AUCmultivariate=0.70 , 95 % CI 0.64 - 0.75 ; AUCunivariate range=0.51 - 0.60 ) . CONCLUSIONS Chronic load is an important moderating factor in the workload-injury relationship . Low chronic loads coupled with low or very high ACWR are associated with increased injury risk OBJECTIVES To analyse the relationship between isokinetic strength of the lower limb muscles and bone mineral density and content ( BMD , BMC ) of adolescent male soccer players and age-matched controls not involved in sport ( 12 - 15 years ) . METHODS A r and om sample of 151 young males was divided into soccer players ( SG ; n=117 ) and control subjects ( CG ; n=34 ) .  Peak torque of knee extensors ( PTE ) and flexors ( PTF ) was measured during isokinetic knee joint movement ( 90 ° /s ) of the dominant and non-dominant lower limbs . BMD and BMC of the whole-body , lumbar spine , dominant/non-dominant lower limb were determined by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry . Physical activity was monitored with accelerometers during 5 days . Estimated maturity offset was used as an indicator of biological maturity status . RESULTS Whole-body BMD ( 1.03±0.01 vs. 0.98±0.01 g/cm2 , P=0.003 ) and dominant ( 1.09±0.01 vs. 1.02±0.01 g/cm2 , P<0.001 ) and non-dominant ( 1.09±0.01 vs. 1.01±0.01 g/cm2 , P<0.001 ) lower limb BMD was greater in SG compared to CG . No significant differences were found for BMC . Compared to CG , SG performed better in the YY-IE2 test ( 780±40 vs. 625±31 m ) , exhibited higher PTE ( dominant limb : 155.2±30.3 vs. 123.4±37.0N m ; non-dominant limb : 156.2±36.1 vs. 120.4±41.1 N m ) and PTF muscles ( dominant limb : 79.0±25.3 vs. 57.1±25.3 Nm ; non-dominant limb : 73.3±20.7 vs. 57.0±24.2N m ) . Moreover , the PTE , soccer participation and maturity status were positively associated with the BMD at all body sites ( r2=0.57 - 0.73 , P<0.05 ) . CONCLUSIONS Muscle strength of knee extensors is associated with BMD and BMC at all body sites . Muscle-skeletal structures respond positively to the weight-bearing and impact-loading imposed by soccer practice . Soccer seemed to be a multilateral balanced sport activity Abstract O'Malley , E , Murphy , JC , McCarthy Persson , U , Gissane , C , and Blake , C. The effects of the Gaelic Athletic Association 15 training program on neuromuscular outcomes in Gaelic football and hurling players : A r and omized cluster trial . J Strength Cond Res 31(8 ) : 2119–2130 , 2017—Team-based neuromuscular training programs for injury prevention have been tested primarily in female and adolescent athletes in soccer , h and ball , and basketball with limited research in adult male field sports . This study explored whether the GAA 15 , a multifaceted 8-week neuromuscular training program developed by the Gaelic Athletic Association ( GAA ) , could improve risk factors for lower limb injury in male Gaelic footballers and hurlers . Four Gaelic sports collegiate teams were r and omized into intervention or control groups . Two teams ( n = 41 ) , one football and one hurling , were allocated to the intervention , undertaking a 15 minutes program of neuromuscular training exercises at the start of team training sessions , twice weekly for 8 weeks . Two matched teams ( n = 37 ) acted as controls , participating in usual team training . Lower extremity stability ( Y-Balance test [ YBT ] ) and jump-l and ing technique using the L and ing Error Scoring System ( LESS ) were assessed preintervention and postintervention . There were moderate effect sizes in favor of the intervention for right ( d = 0.59 ) and left ( d = 0.69 ) composite YBT scores , with adjusted mean differences between intervention and control of 3.85 ± 0.91 % and 4.34 ± 0.92 % for right and left legs , respectively ( p < 0.001 ) . There was a greater reduction in the mean LESS score in favor of the intervention group after exercise training ( Cohen 's d = 0.72 , adjusted mean difference 2.49 ± 0.54 , p < 0.001 ) . Clinical ly and statistically significant improvements in dynamic balance and jump-l and ing technique occurred in collegiate level Gaelic football and hurling players who adopted the GAA 15 , when compared with usual training . These findings support application and evaluation of the GAA 15 in other player groups within the Gaelic games playing population OBJECTIVES To determine the associations between post-game recovery protocol s and physical and perceptual recovery , and game performance in Australian Football League players . DESIGN A longitudinal quasi-experimental study design was used across a season . METHODS A full squad of 44 footballers was monitored weekly across a 23-game season . Players were required to choose from a number of recovery modalities available immediately post-game . These included floor stretching , pool stretching , bike active recovery , pool active recovery , cold-water immersion , contrast therapy and use of a compression garment .  Perceptual measures of recovery were recorded throughout the week and a test of physical performance was conducted two days post-game . Game performance ratings were also recorded . The associations between the post-game recovery protocol s chosen and players ' perceived recovery , and physical and game performances were determined by the association rule data -mining strategy . RESULTS Statistically significant associations were found between a number of post-game recovery protocol s and perceptual recovery . In general , players who chose cold-water immersion , floor stretching , no active recovery ( neither bike or pool ) and the use of a compression garment post-game , had an increased probability of reporting greater perceptual recovery across the following week , relative to all other permutations of recovery protocol s chosen . There were no associations found between post-game recovery  protocol combinations and physical recovery . No associations were found between the post-game recovery methods and the next game performance . CONCLUSIONS Perceptual recovery among players was enhanced through the selection of specific combinations of recovery protocol s post game . However , no links were found between recovery protocol s and physical or game performance measures The objective was to estimate the contribution of experience , body size and maturity status to variation in the functional capacities of adolescent football ( soccer ) players . The sample included 69 players 13.2–15.1 years of age from three clubs which competed in the highest division for their age group in the first Portuguese national division . Height and weight were measured and stage of pubic hair development was assessed at clinical examination . The number of years of experience in football was obtained at interview . Three tests of functional capacity were administered :  30-m dash ( running speed ) , vertical jump ( explosive power )  and a yo-yo intermittent endurance test ( aerobic resistance )  . Multiple linear regression analysis was used to estimate the relative contributions of age , stage of sexual maturity , height , weight and years of formal training in football to the three indicators of functional capacity . Stage of puberty , body size and years of training accounted for 21 % to 50 % of the variance in the three tasks . Sexual maturity status was the primary contributor to the variance in the intermittent shuttle run , whereas weight and height were the primary contributors to the explained variance in the 30-m dash and vertical jump , respectively . In conclusion , biological maturity status significantly influences the functional capacity of adolescent football players 13–15 years of age . Training is a significant contributor to aerobic resistance , whereas weight and height are significant contributors to the sprint and vertical jump , respectively PURPOSE High-intensity interval training ( HIIT ) is a potential alternative to traditionally recommended steady state exercise for providing health benefits in adolescents , yet its dose-response relationship in this cohort remains unclear , as does its translatability to real-world , non clinical setting s. The present study adopts a novel dose-response design to investigate the effects of undertaking 8 wk of HIIT on the cardiometabolic health of low-active male adolescents . METHODS Twenty-six male adolescents ( age 16 ± 1 yr ) , identified as low active by nonparticipation in structured sport and physical education classes  , were r and omly assigned to one of five treatment groups . Corresponding with their group numbers ( 1 - 5 ) , participants completed a number of HIIT " sets , " which consisted of 4 repeated bouts of 20-s near-maximal exertion interspersed with 10-s passive recovery . Participants performed two HIIT sessions and one resistance training session each week for 8 wk . Baseline and follow-up health measures consisted of peak oxygen uptake ( V˙O2peak ) with an incremental ramp test to volitional exhaustion ; body composition ( including visceral fat mass , body fat , and lean tissue mass ) with dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry ; and lipid profile , glucose , insulin , and interleukin-6 from blood analysis . All health outcomes were analyzed as percentage changes , and data were modeled using a quadratic function to explore dose-response relationships . RESULTS Significant improvements were observed for V˙O2peak ( ∼6 % ) , body fat percentage ( ∼4 % ) , visceral fat mass ( ∼10 % ) , and waist circumference-to-height ratio ( ∼3 % ) , but there was no clear effect of dose across groups . CONCLUSIONS Low-active adolescent males performing a single HIIT set twice weekly , in addition to one resistance training session , gained meaningful improvements in fitness and body composition . Performing additional HIIT sets provided no additional improvements to those of the lowest dose in this study Background Groin injuries represent a considerable problem in male football . Previous groin-specific prevention programmes have not shown a significant reduction in groin injury rates . An exercise programme using the Copenhagen Adduction exercise increases hip adduction strength , a key risk factor for groin injuries . However , its preventive effect is yet to be tested . Aim To evaluate the effect of a single-exercise approach , based on the Copenhagen Adduction exercise , on the prevalence of groin problems in male football players . Methods 35 semiprofessional Norwegian football teams were cluster-r and omised into an intervention group ( 18 teams , 339 players ) and a control group ( 17 teams , 313 players ) . The intervention group performed an Adductor Strengthening Programme using one exercise , with three progression levels , three times per week during the preseason ( 6–8 weeks ) , and once per week during the competitive season ( 28 weeks ) . The control group were instructed to train as normal . The prevalence of groin problems was measured weekly in both groups during the competitive season using the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center Overuse Injury Question naire . Results The average prevalence of groin problems during the season was 13.5 % ( 95 % CI 12.3 % to 14.7 % ) in the intervention group and 21.3 % ( 95 % CI 20.0 % to 22.6 % ) in the control group . The risk of reporting groin problems was 41 % lower in the intervention group ( OR 0.59 , 95 % CI 0.40 to 0.86 , p=0.008 ) . Conclusion The simple Adductor Strengthening Programme substantially reduced the self-reported prevalence and risk of groin problems in male football players . Trial registration number IS RCT N98514933 Participation in organised , competitive physical activity by young athletes is increasing rapidly . This is concurrent with an increase in sporting injuries in the young population . This pilot study aim ed to compare the weekly volume and types of physical activity in young basketball players injured and not injured during the season . Detailed physical activity and injury data were prospect ively collected in 46 school-level basketball players aged 14 to 18 years . Participants completed physical activity logs which documented the type of physical activity undertaken , what the activity consisted of ( i.e. training , competition ) and the level at which it was played on a daily basis . Allied health staff completed a weekly injury form . Results showed that injured and uninjured athletes participated in a similar volume of total weekly physical activity over the season . However , injured athletes ( p = 0.04 ) and athletes who specifically sustained overuse injuries ( p = 0.01 ) participated in a greater amount of basketball refereeing than uninjured athletes . Based on these findings it was concluded that greater participation in running-type physical activity such as refereeing , as an addition to training and competition , may predispose the young basketball player to increased injury risk . Future research using larger sample sizes are required to further investigate the role of participation volume and type on injury occurrence in adolescent athletes . Key pointsBasketball players participating in larger amounts of running-type physical activity , in addition to regular training and competition , may be predisposed to overuse injuryFuture studies using larger sample sizes are required to investigate the precise volumes of physical activity that increase injury riskThis would assist in the development of participation guidelines to decrease the current injury rates observed in the young athletic population Superstitions and rituals are commonplace in sports and range from simple activities such as each player touching a special inanimate object before entering the field of play to more extreme behaviours such as not washing a uniform or wearing the same underwear during a winning streak . These practice s are relatively harmless and may reduce precompetition anxiety , but a concerning ritual that has recently developed in sports is the prophylactic use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs ( NSAIDs ) . Athletes have relatively unrestricted access to NSAIDs , as they are readily available over-the-counter preparations and not considered as performance-enhancing drugs by the World Anti-Doping Agency.1 It has been known for some years that athletes are frequent users of NSAIDS,2 with approximately a quarter of athletes competing at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games reporting NSAID use in the 3 days before r and om drug testing.3 Such prevalent NSAID use may reflect the physical rigors of elite athletic endeavours , but more recent data suggest athletes misuse their open access to NSAIDs . Tscholl and colleagues4 recently reported in this journal that 23 % of top-level male football players  used NSAIDs  in two out of three matches during the 2002 and 2006
Of the few studies examining negative consequences associated with workloads , increases in training load led to increases in injury rates , while longer training duration was associated with a greater incidence of illness .
Conclusion The combined capacity for adolescent males to grow , train and improve physical performance highlights and underscores an exciting responsiveness to training in the football environment .
However , the capacity to train has some established barriers for adolescents experiencing high workloads , which could also result in negative consequences .
Background The expectation that training enhances performance is well explored in professional sport .
However , the additional challenges of physical and cognitive maturation may require careful consideration when determining workloads to enhance performance in adolescents .
Objective The objective of this study was to determine the state of knowledge on the relationship between workloads , physical performance , injury and /or illness in adolescent male football players .