The Association Between Psychosocial Factors and Reported Injuries Among Youth Grassroot Soccer Players

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Adolescent Health
• Public Health

Background:

• Grassroot sports participation offers developmental benefits for adolescents.
• Increased sport participation can elevate injury risk, potentially leading to athletes quitting.
• Limited data exists on injury prevalence in youth grassroot sports settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of injuries in youth grassroot football players.
• To examine the relationship between injury prevalence and risk factors like sex, age, social support, autonomy support, and training load.

Main Methods:

• Surveyed 568 adolescents (U14-U19) in Agder County, Norway, on football participation and injuries.
• Collected data on sex, age, social support, coach and peer autonomy support, and training load.
• Analyzed injury prevalence and its association with identified risk factors.

Main Results:

• No significant differences in overall or substantial injury prevalence were found between sexes or age groups.
• Injury anatomical areas varied by sex and age.
• Higher injury prevalence was linked to lower peer autonomy support, higher weekly football activity, and being female.
• Substantial injuries were associated with more match time or lower perceived coach autonomy support in lower match time groups.

Conclusions:

• A surprisingly high prevalence of injury exists in youth grassroot football.
• Future intervention studies are needed to address injury prevention in this population.
• Specific risk factors, including lower peer support and higher training volume, are associated with increased injury risk.