A survey of injuries sustained in the game of touch

Three hundred and forty-five Touch football players were retrospectively surveyed to determine the nature and incidence of injuries sustained over a one year period. The definition of injury was that it prevented playing or training for at least one week. A total of 177 injuries were sustained by 117 players who participated in a total of 1043 hours of playing and training each week. The injury rate was 4.85/1000 hours of playing or training which was less than in other football codes. This rate was significantly more (p < 0.05) among males and no relationship was evident based on representative or training status. 71% of injuries were to the lower limb. 23% of all injuries involved the ankle. Less than 3% of injuries affected the head or neck. 54% of injuries were considered mild in that they only prevented playing or training for less than two weeks. Only 17% of injuries were stated to have been caused by contact with another player. This study found that the injury rate in Touch was much less than in other football codes.