Risk factors for injury in community-level football: a cohort study

We investigated the independent effect of commonly postulated risk factors on injury incidence in amateur football (soccer), using a prospective cohort design with follow-up over two seasons. A total of 1702 male and female players aged 13 years or older contributed information on 21,797 player-matches. Confirmed, were the effect of male vs. female sex (injury rate ratios (IRR)=0.81, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.670.97), older age (increasing IRR gradient), New Zealand European ethnicity (IRR=0.87, 95% CI: 0.741.01), being taller (180189 cm: IRR=1.32, 95% CI: 1.061.63), previous injury (IRR=1.32, 95% CI: 1.121.57), playing against medical advice (IRR=1.24, 95% CI: 1.031.49), playing while recovering from injury (IRR=1.40, 95% CI: 1.201.49), history of cigarette smoking (IRR=1.27, 95% CI: 1.001.61) and time of season (IRR=0.97, 95% CI: 0.960.98). Female, adult, non-European and taller players could be paid particular attention in injury prevention programmes. The need for effective injury management is reinforced. Adding physical conditioning to pre-season training may be required.