A new injury prevention programme for children’s football – FIFA 11+ Kids – can improve motor performance: a cluster-randomised controlled trial

Abstract

The present study evaluated the effects of a newly developed injury prevention programme for children's football ("FIFA 11+ Kids") on motor performance in 7-12-year-old children. We stratified 12 football teams (under-9/-11/-13 age categories) into intervention (INT, N = 56 players) and control groups (CON, N = 67). INT conducted the 15-min warm-up programme "FIFA 11+ Kids" twice a week for 10 weeks. CON followed a standard warm-up (sham treatment). Pre- and post-tests were conducted using: single leg stance; Y-balance test; drop and countermovement jump; standing long jump; 20-m sprint; agility run; slalom dribble; and wall volley test. We used magnitude-based inferences and linear mixed-effects models to analyse performance test results. We observed likely beneficial effects favouring INT in Y-balance (right leg; +3.2%; standardised mean difference (SMD) = 0.34; P = 0.58) and agility run (+3.6%; SMD = 0.45; P = 0.008). Possibly beneficial effects were found in Y-balance, drop jump reactive strength index, drop jump height, countermovement jump, standing long jump, slalom dribble and wall volley test. At least possibly beneficial improvements in favour of "FIFA 11+ Kids" were observed in nearly all parameters. Most effects were small, but slight improvements in motor performance may potentially contribute to a reduction of injury risk.

Overuse injuries are prevalent in children’s competitive football: a prospective study using the OSTRC Overuse Injury Questionnaire

“…Similar risk factors have been associated with acute knee injuries as well 31 32. Enhancing knee alignment and lower extremity/core strength might be of value in children participating in football in order to reduce the risk of both acute and overuse knee injuries21 as well as to improve motor performance 33…”

The Effect of Ten-Week FIFA 11+ Injury Prevention Program for Kids on Performance and Fitness of Adolescent Soccer Players

“…Each exercise includes five difficulty levels. The program starts from level one and progresses to level five gradually (18).…”

“…Therefore, two distinct parts of the 11+ Kids program are allocated to plyometric and jumping exercises. Rossler et al (2015) investigated the effects of this program on the kids' neuromuscular performance compared to a regular warm-up program and showed the effectiveness of this program in enhancing the kids' motor performance (18). FIFA intends to expand and develop the FIFA 11+ Kids comprehensive warmup program.…”

Evidence of balance training‐induced improvement in soccer‐specific skills in U11 soccer players

“…Balance has been considered one of the most important fundamentals for non‐contact injuries prevention and rehabilitative training effects assessment in sport. Despite the relationship between balance and sport injury risk has been established, the relationship between balance and sport performance still remains unclear …”

“…Rossler et al found slight performance enhancements in dynamic balance, agility, jumping performance, and slalom dribbling in young soccer players (7‐12 years) after a specific injury prevention program (FIFA 11 + Kids). This program, which includes six exercises for lower limbs and trunk stability and strength, and one exercise on falling technique, was also more effective in injury prevention than a usual warm‐up .…”