The FIFA 11+ Kids Injury Prevention Program Reduces Injury Rates Among Male Children Soccer Players: A Clustered Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Background: The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) 11+ Kids is an exercise-based injury prevention program developed by an international group of experts to prevent injuries among child soccer players. Hypothesis: It was hypothesized that the FIFA 11+ Kids program would be more effective than performing a typical warm-up regimen in reducing overall injuries among soccer players aged 7 to 13 years. Study Design: A clustered randomized controlled trial. Level of Evidence: Level 1. Methods: A total of 94 boys’ soccer teams, including 780 players, were randomly allocated into an experimental or control group. Complete datasets were collected from 45 teams (377 players) and 43 teams (363 players) in the experimental and control groups, respectively. The experimental group underwent the FIFA 11+ Kids program as a warm-up during training sessions and matches at least twice a week, and the control group continued performing their usual warm-ups. Participants were prospectively followed during 1 season (6 months). The primary outcomes included the incidence of overall and recurrent injuries and their mechanism and severity. The secondary outcome was the rate of compliance with the intervention program. Results: A total of 43 injuries were reported in the experimental group in 50,120 hours of exposure (0.85 injuries/1000 exposure hours). A total of 86 injuries were reported in the control group in 42,616 hours of exposure (2.01 injuries/1000 exposure hours). The injury risk ratio was 0.43 (0.29-0.61), suggesting that the experimental group experienced 57% fewer injuries than those in the control group. Conclusion: The FIFA 11+ Kids program reduced overall injury rates in children playing soccer more than the usual warm-ups. Clinical Relevance: The results of this study provide evidence for children’s coaches to consider including the FIFA 11+ Kids program in their warm-up regimen. Such a program may prevent injury risk and decrease absenteeism and injury-related financial burdens.

A influência da alta demanda física na ocorrência das principais lesões musculares e ligamentares em atletas profissionais de futebol: Uma revisão sistemática

“…25 Os locais comumente acometidos, tais como joelho, perna e tornozelo, sofreram uma considerável redução de lesões com o programa de prevenção, sendo as lesões por contato, sem contato e por uso excessivo reduzidas. 26 Quanto aos atletas profissionais, o FIFA11þ obteve um resultado menos expressivo, em virtude do calendário competitivo, com intervalos curtos entre as partidas, além da rotina com alta exigência física. Entretanto, notou-se a melhora em variáveis que são consideradas fundamentais para a boa performance, como o controle postural dinâmico do atleta.…”

“…A special reduction occurred in contact, non-contact, and excessive use injuries. 26 As for professional players, FIFA11þ led to less impressive outcomes due to the competition calendar, short breaks between matches, and the highly physically demanding routine. However, it improved variables critical for good performance, such as the athlete's dynamic postural control.…”

May the Force Be with Youth: Foundational Strength for Lifelong Development

“…Resistance training with medicine balls, elastic bands, and battling ropes can be incorporated into a youth fitness circuit and individually progressed so each participant can start at a safe level and gradually progress as warranted (98). Young athletes can perform a warm-up during training sessions that includes strength-building exercises to improve neuromuscular dexterity and reduce injury risk (99). Many 5- to 7-year-olds are already involved in sport activities, and it is reasonable they also could benefit from developmentally appropriate strength-building activities (97).…”

The Effect of Eight Weeks of Stop-X and FIFA 11+ Kids Warm-Up on Proprioception and Balance in Football Players with Dynamic Knee Valgus

“…In 2015, Rossler et al presented the FIFA 11+ programme for children based on epidemiological data in collaboration with an international group for the prevention of football injuries [14]. Rosler et al (2022) in their showed a 57% reduction in the number of injuries in the FIFA 11+ kids training to program compared the normal warm-up research [15]. In regards, the German Knee Association has developed a special program called Stop-X to prevent injuries, particularly ACL injuries, and reduce the angle of the knee valgus.…”