A prospective investigation to evaluate risk factors for lower extremity injury risk in male youth soccer players

There is an inherent risk of injury in male youth football; however, pertinent risk factors for injury have yet to be examined. This study used a prospective cohort design with 357 elite male youth football players (aged 10-18 years) assessed during the pre-season period and then monitored during the season recording all non-contact lower extremity injuries. Screening tests included: single leg hop for distance (SLHD); 75% of maximum hop and stick (75%Hop); single leg countermovement jump (SLCMJ); and the tuck jump assessment (TJ). Players were divided into sub-groups based on chronological age. SLCMJ peak landing vertical ground reaction force (pVGRF) asymmetry was the most prominent risk factor (U11-U12’s, OR 0.90, p = 0.04; and U15-U16’s, OR 0.91, p < 0.001). Maturational offset (OR 0.58, p = 0.04), lower right leg SLCMJ pVGRF relative to body weight (OR 0.36, p = 0.03) and advanced chronological age (OR 3.62, p = 0.04) were also significantly associated with heightened injury risk in the U13-U14’s, U15-U16’s and U18’s respectively. Univariate analyses showed combinations of anthropometric and movement screening risk factors were associated with heightened risk of lower extremity injury; however, there was variability across the different chronological age groups. Greater SLCMJ pVGRF asymmetry, lower right leg SLCMJ pVGRF %BW, later maturation and advanced chronological age are potential risk factors for injury in elite male youth football players, although the strength of these relationships were often low to moderate. In addition, risk factors are likely to change at different stages of development