Jakša Škomrlj1, Sime Versic1, Mate Kuko1, Vladimir Pavlinovic1, Tine Sattler1
1University of Split, Faculty of Kinesiology, Split, Croatia, 2University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Sport, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Understanding Injury Dynamics in Youth Soccer: A Six-Season Study of Traumatic and Overuse Injuries
Sport Mont 2025, 23(2), Ahead of Print | DOI: 10.26773/smj.250601
Abstract
Despite extensive research on adolescent and late-pubertal soccer players, there is limited longitudinal data on injury incidence in prepubertal and early pubertal soccer players. This study aimed to analyze the incidence and distribution of traumatic and overuse injuries in youth soccer players aged 8 to 15 years over six competitive seasons. A prospective cohort study was conducted on 811 youth soccer players from a professional soccer academy, tracking injuries across six seasons (2016/17–2021/22). Injury data were extracted from medical records and classified based on the FIFA consensus statement. Injuries were categorized as traumatic or overuse, with incidence expressed per 1000 hours of exposure. While the distribution of traumatic and overuse injuries remained consistent across age categories, younger players exhibited a higher proportion of overuse injuries, whereas older players sustained more traumatic injuries. Additionally, injury incidence increased with age, with the highest number recorded in U15 players. The overall traumatic-to-overuse injury ratio was approximately 50:50, differing from patterns seen in senior-level players. Injury incidence in youth soccer players follows an age-related trend, with overuse injuries being more prevalent in younger players and traumatic injuries increasing with age. These findings highlight the need for age-specific injury prevention programs, emphasizing proper workload management for younger players and injury mitigation strategies for older athletes. Future research should investigate long-term injury trends and predictors across multiple clubs to optimize player development and safety.
Keywords
youth soccer, injury incidence, traumatic injuries, overuse injuries, player development, injury prevention
View full article
(PDF – 312KB)
References
Błażkiewicz, A., Grygorowicz, M., Białostocki, A., & Czaprowski, D. (2018). Characteristics of goalkeeping injuries: a retrospective, self-reported study in adolescent soccer players. The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, 58(12), 1823-1830., doi.org/10.23736/s0022-4707.18.07849-0
Bourdon, P. C., Cardinale, M., Murray, A., Gastin, P., Kellmann, M., Varley, M. C., . . . Gregson, W. (2017). Monitoring athlete training loads: consensus statement. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 12(s2), S2-161-S162-170., doi.org/10.1123/IJSPP.2017-0208
Bourogiannis, G., Hatzimanouil, D., Semanltianou, E., Georgiadis, I., & Sykaras, E. (2023). Reintegration Program for Professional Football Players after Grade 2 Hamstring Injuries. Montenegrin Journal of Sports Science & Medicine, 12(1)., doi.org/10.26773/mjssm.230305
Brenner, J. S., Medicine, C. o. S., & Fitness. (2007). Overuse injuries, overtraining, and burnout in child and adolescent athletes. Pediatrics, 119(6), 1242-1245., doi.org/10.1542/peds.2023-065129.
Brink, M. S., Visscher, C., Arends, S., Zwerver, J., Post, W. J., & Lemmink, K. A. (2010). Monitoring stress and recovery: new insights for the prevention of injuries and illnesses in elite youth soccer players. British journal of sports medicine, 44(11), 809-815., doi.org/10.1136/bjsm.2009.069476
Bult, H. J., Barendrecht, M., & Tak, I. J. R. (2018). Injury risk and injury burden are related to age group and peak height velocity among talented male youth soccer players. Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine, 6(12), doi.org/10.1177/232596711881104
Di Giminiani, R., & Visca, C. (2017). Explosive strength and endurance adaptations in young elite soccer players during two soccer seasons. PloS One, 12(2), doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0171734
Eckard, T. G., Padua, D. A., Hearn, D. W., Pexa, B. S., & Frank, B. S. (2018). The relationship between training load and injury in athletes: a systematic review. Sports Medicine, 48, 1929-1961., doi.org/10.1007/s40279-018-0951-z
Ergun, M., Denerel, H. N., Mehmet, S., & Ertat, K. A. (2013). Injuries in elite youth football players: a prospective three-year study. Acta Orthopaedica et Traumatologica Turcica, 47(5), 339-346., https://doi.org/10.3944/AOTT.2013.3177
Faude, O., Rößler, R., & Junge, A. (2013). Football injuries in children and adolescent players: are there clues for prevention? Sports Medicine, 43, 819-837., doi.org/10.1007/s40279-013-0061-x
Fortin-Guichard, D., Huberts, I., Sanders, J., van Elk, R., Mann, D. L., & Savelsbergh, G. J. (2022). Predictors of selection into an elite level youth football academy: A longitudinal study. Journal of Sports Sciences, 40(9), 984-999., doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2022.2044128
Fuller, C. W., Ekstrand, J., Junge, A., Andersen, T. E., Bahr, R., Dvorak, J., . . . Meeuwisse, W. H. (2006). Consensus statement on injury definitions and data collection procedures in studies of football (soccer) injuries. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 16(2), 83-92., doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0838.2006.00528.x
Hägglund, M., Waldén, M., & Ekstrand, J. (2009). Injuries among male and female elite football players. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 19(6), 819-827., doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0838.2008.00861.x
Jones, S., Almousa, S., Gibb, A., Allamby, N., Mullen, R., Andersen, T. E., & Williams, M. (2019). Injury incidence, prevalence and severity in high-level male youth football: a systematic review. Sports Medicine, 49, 1879-1899., doi.org/10.1007/s40279-019-01169-8
Junge, A., & Dvorak, J. (2004). Soccer injuries: a review on incidence and prevention. Sports Medicine, 34, 929-938., doi.org/10.2165/00007256-200434130-00004
Karabin, L., Pupiš, M., & Švantner, R. (2024). Occurrence of lower limb asymetries during deceleration in soccer players in the U19 category. Slovak Journal of Sport Science, 9(Supplementum)., doi.org/10.24040/sjss.2024.9.suppl.73-83
Le Gall, F., Carling, C., Reilly, T., Vandewalle, H., Church, J., & Rochcongar, P. (2006). Incidence of injuries in elite French youth soccer players: a 10-season study. The American Journal of Sports Medicine, 34(6), 928-938., doi.org/10.1177/0363546505283271
Leppänen, M., Pasanen, K., Clarsen, B., Kannus, P., Bahr, R., Parkkari, J., . . . & Vasankari, T. (2019). Overuse injuries are prevalent in children’s competitive football: a prospective study using the OSTRC Overuse Injury Questionnaire. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 53(3), 165-171., doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2018-099218
Mandorino, M., Figueiredo, A. J., Gjaka, M., & Tessitore, A. (2023). Injury incidence and risk factors in youth soccer players: a systematic literature review. Part II: Intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors. Biology of Sport, 40(1), 27-49., doi.org/10.5114/biolsport.2023.109962
Maternea, O., Farooqb, A., Johnsona, A., Greigc, M., & McNaughtonc, L. (2016). Relationship between injuries and somatic maturation in highly trained youth soccer players. International Research in Science and Soccer II, 20, 182-192., doi.org/10.4324/9781315686745
Mikić, L., Marasović, J., Rađa, A., Erceg, M., & Sivrić, H. (2024). Differences in the Speed and Power of Elite U12 and U13 Croatian Soccer Players. Sport Mont, 22(3), 75-80., doi.org/10.26773/smj.241012
Nilsson, T., Östenberg, A. H., & Alricsson, M. (2016). Injury profile among elite male youth soccer players in a Swedish first league. Journal of Exercise Rehabilitation, 12(2), 83-89. https://doi.org/10.12965/jer.1632548.274
Price, R., Hawkins, R., Hulse, M., & Hodson, A. (2004). The Football Association medical research programme: an audit of injuries in academy youth football. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 38(4), 466-471., doi.org/10.1136/bjsm.2003.005165
Pulici, L., Randelli, P., Pellegrini, A., Zago, M., Bellistri, G., Niccolai, R., . . . Volpi, P. (2024). Injuries in elite football (soccer) academy: A 4-year year observational cohort study of five categories and 515 players. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching., doi.org/10.1177/17479541241232765
Rabbani, A., Wong, D. P., Clemente, F. M., & Kargarfard, M. (2021). Internal training load and fitness profile between adult team versus junior team soccer players. Kinesiology, 53(1), 71-77., 10.26582/k.53.1.8
Rabie, A., Arafa, M. S., Bahloul, M., & Abdelbadie, A. (2025). The single antegrade sling graft: a novel hamstring autograft technique for combined anterior cruciate ligament and anterolateral ligament reconstruction. Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, 145(1), 126., doi.org/10.1007/s00402-024-05697-5
Read, P., Oliver, J. L., Croix, M. B. D. S., Myer, G. D., & Lloyd, R. S. (2015). Injury risk factors in male youth soccer players. Strength & Conditioning Journal, 37(5), 1-7., doi.org/10.1519/SSC.0000000000000171
Rinaldo, N., Gualdi-Russo, E., & Zaccagni, L. (2021). Influence of size and maturity on injury in young elite soccer players. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(6), 3120., doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18063120
Rommers, N., Rössler, R., Goossens, L., Vaeyens, R., Lenoir, M., Witvrouw, E., & D’Hondt, E. (2020). Risk of acute and overuse injuries in youth elite soccer players: body size and growth matter. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 23(3), 246-251., doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2019.10.001
Rössler, R., Junge, A., Chomiak, J., Dvorak, J., & Faude, O. (2016). Soccer injuries in players aged 7 to 12 years: a descriptive epidemiological study over 2 seasons. The American Journal of Sports Medicine, 44(2), 309-317., doi.org/10.1177/036354651561481
Serfaty, A., & Palmer, W. E. (2025). Introduction to the special issue on soccer injuries. Skeletal Radiology, 1-2., doi.org/10.1007/s00256-025-04889-3
Sermaxhaj, S., Arifi, F., Alaj, I., Kelmendi, D., Gjonbalaj, M., & Sermaxhaj, S. (2024). The Impact of the Soccer Training Season on the Body Composition and Physical Performances of Young Soccer Players. Sport Mont, 22(1)., doi.org/10.26773/smj.240205
Van der Sluis, A., Elferink-Gemser, M., Brink, M., & Visscher, C. (2015). Importance of peak height velocity timing in terms of injuries in talented soccer players. International Journal of Sports Medicine, 36(04), 327-332., doi.org/10.1055/s-0034-1385879
Wagner, C. M., Brauner, T., Warneke, K., Stefer, T., Kuhn, L., Hoffmeister, M., . . . & Keiner, M. (2023). Absolute and relative maximum strength measures show differences in their correlations with sprint and jump performances in trained youth soccer players. Montenegrin Journal of Sports Science and Medicine, 19(1), 3-8., doi.org/10.26773/mjssm.230309
Weishorn, J., Jaber, A., Zietzschmann, S., Spielmann, J., Renkawitz, T., & Bangert, Y. (2023). Injury Patterns and Incidence in an Elite Youth Football Academy—A Prospective Cohort Study of 138 Male Athletes. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 12(19), 6138., doi.org/10.3390/jcm12196138
Wik, E. H., Lolli, L., Chamari, K., Materne, O., Di Salvo, V., Gregson, W., & Bahr, R. (2021). Injury patterns differ with age in male youth football: a four-season prospective study of 1111 time-loss injuries in an elite national academy. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 55(14), 794-800., doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2020-103430
Zwolski, C., Quatman-Yates, C., & Paterno, M. V. (2017). Resistance training in youth: laying the foundation for injury prevention and physical literacy. Sports Health, 9(5), 436-443., doi.org/10.1177/1941738117704153