Playing Position and the Injury Incidence Rate in Male Academy Soccer Players

Elliott C.R. Hall; Jon Larruskain; Susana M. Gil; Josean A. Lekue; Philipp Baumert; Edgardo Rienzi; Sacha Moreno; Marcio Tannure; Conall F. Murtagh; Jack D. Ade; Paul Squires; Patrick Orme; Liam Anderson; Craig M. Whitworth-Turner; James P. Morton; Barry Drust; Alun G. Williams; Robert M. Erskine

doi:10.4085/1062-6050-0346.21

Playing Position and the Injury Incidence Rate in Male Academy Soccer Players

Elliott C.R. Hall, Jon Larruskain, Susana M. Gil, Josean A. Lekue, Philipp Baumert, Edgardo Rienzi, Sacha Moreno, Marcio Tannure, Conall F. Murtagh, Jack D. Ade, Paul Squires, Patrick Orme, Liam Anderson, Craig M. Whitworth-Turner, James P. Morton, Barry Drust, Alun G. Williams, Robert M. Erskine^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Context: Whether playing position influences injury in male academy soccer players (ASPs) is unclear.

Objective: To determine if playing position was associated with injury in ASPs.

Design: Descriptive epidemiology study.

Setting: English, Spanish, Uruguayan, and Brazilian soccer academies.

Patients or Other Participants: A total of 369 ASPs from the under-14 to under-23 age groups, classified as post-peak height velocity using maturity offset, and grouped as goalkeepers, lateral defenders, central defenders, lateral midfielders, central midfielders, or forwards.

Main Outcome Measure(s): Injuries were recorded prospectively over 1 season. Injury prevalence proportion (IPP), days missed, and injury incidence rate (IIR, injuries/1000 training or match hours, n = 116) were analyzed according to playing position.

Results: No association with playing position was observed for any injury type or location regarding IPP (P ≥.089) or days missed (P ≥ .235). The IIR was higher in central defenders than in lateral defenders for general (9.30 versus 4.18 injuries/1000 h, P = .009), soft tissue (5.14 versus 1.95 injuries/1000 h, P = .026), and ligament or tendon injuries (2.69 versus 0.56 injuries/ 1000 h, P = .040). The central versus lateral or forward positions were not associated with IPP (P ≥ .051) or days missed (P ≥ .083), but general IIR was greater in the central position than the lateral or forward positions (8.67 versus 6.12 injuries/1000 h, P= .047).

Conclusions: Academy soccer players' playing positions were not associated with IPP or days missed, but the higher general, soft tissue, and ligament or tendon IIRs in central defenders suggest that this position warrants specific attention regarding injury-prevention strategies. These novel findings highlight the importance of considering training or match exposure when investigating the influence of playing position on injury in ASPs.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	696-703
Number of pages	8
Journal	Journal of Athletic Training
Volume	57
Issue number	7
Early online date	10 Feb 2022
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.4085/1062-6050-0346.21
Publication status	Published - Jul 2022

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
We are extremely grateful to the following individuals for their assistance with data collection: Sam Temple, Dr Mateo Gamarra, Dr Emiliano Vigna, Dr Gustavo Schmitner, Dr Luisina Passarello, Daniel Silva, Diego Morena, Bruno Jotta Costa, and John Chaffe. This work was supported by a University Pro VC PhD scholarship.

Publisher Copyright:
© by the National Athletic Trainers' Association, Inc.

Keywords

adolescents
epidemiology
football
maturation
soft tissue injury

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General Medicine

Access to Document

10.4085/1062-6050-0346.21

https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/16278/

Cite this

Hall, E. C. R., Larruskain, J., Gil, S. M., Lekue, J. A., Baumert, P., Rienzi, E., Moreno, S., Tannure, M., Murtagh, C. F., Ade, J. D., Squires, P., Orme, P., Anderson, L., Whitworth-Turner, C. M., Morton, J. P., Drust, B., Williams, A. G., & Erskine, R. M. (2022). Playing Position and the Injury Incidence Rate in Male Academy Soccer Players. Journal of Athletic Training, 57(7), 696-703. https://doi.org/10.4085/1062-6050-0346.21

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title = "Playing Position and the Injury Incidence Rate in Male Academy Soccer Players",

abstract = "Context: Whether playing position influences injury in male academy soccer players (ASPs) is unclear. Objective: To determine if playing position was associated with injury in ASPs. Design: Descriptive epidemiology study. Setting: English, Spanish, Uruguayan, and Brazilian soccer academies. Patients or Other Participants: A total of 369 ASPs from the under-14 to under-23 age groups, classified as post-peak height velocity using maturity offset, and grouped as goalkeepers, lateral defenders, central defenders, lateral midfielders, central midfielders, or forwards. Main Outcome Measure(s): Injuries were recorded prospectively over 1 season. Injury prevalence proportion (IPP), days missed, and injury incidence rate (IIR, injuries/1000 training or match hours, n = 116) were analyzed according to playing position. Results: No association with playing position was observed for any injury type or location regarding IPP (P ≥.089) or days missed (P ≥ .235). The IIR was higher in central defenders than in lateral defenders for general (9.30 versus 4.18 injuries/1000 h, P = .009), soft tissue (5.14 versus 1.95 injuries/1000 h, P = .026), and ligament or tendon injuries (2.69 versus 0.56 injuries/ 1000 h, P = .040). The central versus lateral or forward positions were not associated with IPP (P ≥ .051) or days missed (P ≥ .083), but general IIR was greater in the central position than the lateral or forward positions (8.67 versus 6.12 injuries/1000 h, P= .047). Conclusions: Academy soccer players' playing positions were not associated with IPP or days missed, but the higher general, soft tissue, and ligament or tendon IIRs in central defenders suggest that this position warrants specific attention regarding injury-prevention strategies. These novel findings highlight the importance of considering training or match exposure when investigating the influence of playing position on injury in ASPs.",

keywords = "adolescents, epidemiology, football, maturation, soft tissue injury",

author = "Hall, {Elliott C.R.} and Jon Larruskain and Gil, {Susana M.} and Lekue, {Josean A.} and Philipp Baumert and Edgardo Rienzi and Sacha Moreno and Marcio Tannure and Murtagh, {Conall F.} and Ade, {Jack D.} and Paul Squires and Patrick Orme and Liam Anderson and Whitworth-Turner, {Craig M.} and Morton, {James P.} and Barry Drust and Williams, {Alun G.} and Erskine, {Robert M.}",

note = "Funding Information: We are extremely grateful to the following individuals for their assistance with data collection: Sam Temple, Dr Mateo Gamarra, Dr Emiliano Vigna, Dr Gustavo Schmitner, Dr Luisina Passarello, Daniel Silva, Diego Morena, Bruno Jotta Costa, and John Chaffe. This work was supported by a University Pro VC PhD scholarship. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} by the National Athletic Trainers' Association, Inc.",

year = "2022",

month = jul,

doi = "10.4085/1062-6050-0346.21",

language = "English",

volume = "57",

pages = "696--703",

journal = "Journal of Athletic Training",

issn = "1062-6050",

publisher = "National Athletic Trainers' Association",

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Hall, ECR, Larruskain, J, Gil, SM, Lekue, JA, Baumert, P, Rienzi, E, Moreno, S, Tannure, M, Murtagh, CF, Ade, JD, Squires, P, Orme, P, Anderson, L, Whitworth-Turner, CM, Morton, JP, Drust, B, Williams, AG & Erskine, RM 2022, 'Playing Position and the Injury Incidence Rate in Male Academy Soccer Players', Journal of Athletic Training, vol. 57, no. 7, pp. 696-703. https://doi.org/10.4085/1062-6050-0346.21

TY - JOUR

T1 - Playing Position and the Injury Incidence Rate in Male Academy Soccer Players

AU - Hall, Elliott C.R.

AU - Larruskain, Jon

AU - Gil, Susana M.

AU - Lekue, Josean A.

AU - Baumert, Philipp

AU - Rienzi, Edgardo

AU - Moreno, Sacha

AU - Tannure, Marcio

AU - Murtagh, Conall F.

AU - Ade, Jack D.

AU - Squires, Paul

AU - Orme, Patrick

AU - Anderson, Liam

AU - Whitworth-Turner, Craig M.

AU - Morton, James P.

AU - Drust, Barry

AU - Williams, Alun G.

AU - Erskine, Robert M.

N1 - Funding Information: We are extremely grateful to the following individuals for their assistance with data collection: Sam Temple, Dr Mateo Gamarra, Dr Emiliano Vigna, Dr Gustavo Schmitner, Dr Luisina Passarello, Daniel Silva, Diego Morena, Bruno Jotta Costa, and John Chaffe. This work was supported by a University Pro VC PhD scholarship. Publisher Copyright: © by the National Athletic Trainers' Association, Inc.

PY - 2022/7

Y1 - 2022/7

N2 - Context: Whether playing position influences injury in male academy soccer players (ASPs) is unclear. Objective: To determine if playing position was associated with injury in ASPs. Design: Descriptive epidemiology study. Setting: English, Spanish, Uruguayan, and Brazilian soccer academies. Patients or Other Participants: A total of 369 ASPs from the under-14 to under-23 age groups, classified as post-peak height velocity using maturity offset, and grouped as goalkeepers, lateral defenders, central defenders, lateral midfielders, central midfielders, or forwards. Main Outcome Measure(s): Injuries were recorded prospectively over 1 season. Injury prevalence proportion (IPP), days missed, and injury incidence rate (IIR, injuries/1000 training or match hours, n = 116) were analyzed according to playing position. Results: No association with playing position was observed for any injury type or location regarding IPP (P ≥.089) or days missed (P ≥ .235). The IIR was higher in central defenders than in lateral defenders for general (9.30 versus 4.18 injuries/1000 h, P = .009), soft tissue (5.14 versus 1.95 injuries/1000 h, P = .026), and ligament or tendon injuries (2.69 versus 0.56 injuries/ 1000 h, P = .040). The central versus lateral or forward positions were not associated with IPP (P ≥ .051) or days missed (P ≥ .083), but general IIR was greater in the central position than the lateral or forward positions (8.67 versus 6.12 injuries/1000 h, P= .047). Conclusions: Academy soccer players' playing positions were not associated with IPP or days missed, but the higher general, soft tissue, and ligament or tendon IIRs in central defenders suggest that this position warrants specific attention regarding injury-prevention strategies. These novel findings highlight the importance of considering training or match exposure when investigating the influence of playing position on injury in ASPs.

AB - Context: Whether playing position influences injury in male academy soccer players (ASPs) is unclear. Objective: To determine if playing position was associated with injury in ASPs. Design: Descriptive epidemiology study. Setting: English, Spanish, Uruguayan, and Brazilian soccer academies. Patients or Other Participants: A total of 369 ASPs from the under-14 to under-23 age groups, classified as post-peak height velocity using maturity offset, and grouped as goalkeepers, lateral defenders, central defenders, lateral midfielders, central midfielders, or forwards. Main Outcome Measure(s): Injuries were recorded prospectively over 1 season. Injury prevalence proportion (IPP), days missed, and injury incidence rate (IIR, injuries/1000 training or match hours, n = 116) were analyzed according to playing position. Results: No association with playing position was observed for any injury type or location regarding IPP (P ≥.089) or days missed (P ≥ .235). The IIR was higher in central defenders than in lateral defenders for general (9.30 versus 4.18 injuries/1000 h, P = .009), soft tissue (5.14 versus 1.95 injuries/1000 h, P = .026), and ligament or tendon injuries (2.69 versus 0.56 injuries/ 1000 h, P = .040). The central versus lateral or forward positions were not associated with IPP (P ≥ .051) or days missed (P ≥ .083), but general IIR was greater in the central position than the lateral or forward positions (8.67 versus 6.12 injuries/1000 h, P= .047). Conclusions: Academy soccer players' playing positions were not associated with IPP or days missed, but the higher general, soft tissue, and ligament or tendon IIRs in central defenders suggest that this position warrants specific attention regarding injury-prevention strategies. These novel findings highlight the importance of considering training or match exposure when investigating the influence of playing position on injury in ASPs.

KW - adolescents

KW - epidemiology

KW - football

KW - maturation

KW - soft tissue injury

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Playing Position and the Injury Incidence Rate in Male Academy Soccer Players

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

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Cite this