UNLABELLED Variations in rates of growth and development in young football players can influence relationships among various fitness qualities. PURPOSE To investigate the relationships between repeated-sprint ability and other fundamental fitness qualities of acceleration, agility, explosive leg power, and aerobic conditioning through the age groups of U11 to U18 in highly trained junior foot...

INTRODUCTION Becoming an elite soccer player is a challenging and demanding process which requires both talent and an extensive time of deliberate practice over several years [1]. In order to foster talented young players, football academies have become an important development arena. Being part of a football academy environment is associated with many advantages, such as; high-level coaches, s...

BACKGROUND Artificial turf is becoming increasingly popular, although the risk of injury on newer generations of turf is unknown. AIM To investigate the risk of injury on artificial turf compared with natural grass among young female football players. STUDY DESIGN Prospective cohort study. METHODS 2020 players from 109 teams (mean (SD) 15.4 (0.8) years) participated in the study during th...

Vitamin D is synthesised in the skin during exposure to sunlight and its fundamental roles are the regulation of calcium and phosphate metabolism and bone mineralisation. The aim of our study was to evaluate serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3, PTH and bone turnover markers (P1NP, OC, beta-CTx, OC/beta-CTx) and the intake of calcium and vitamin D in Polish Professional Football League (Ekstrak...

Background & Aims: Lower limbs’ nerves are exposed to mechanical injuries in athletes (e.g. football players), because of the excessive physical demand of their job. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the influence of regular and intense sports, such as football, on nerves in the lower leg. This study was conducted during 2006 to 2007 in the Shiraz Rehabilitation Faculty, Univer...

OBJECTIVE To examine the effect of a comprehensive warm-up programme designed to reduce the risk of injuries in female youth football. DESIGN Cluster randomised controlled trial with clubs as the unit of randomisation. SETTING 125 football clubs from the south, east, and middle of Norway (65 clusters in the intervention group; 60 in the control group) followed for one league season (eight m...