Relationship between the injury incidence with age groups and body mass index in 7 to 12 years old male soccer players in Kerman

Extensive epidemiological research is the first step in designing sports injury prevention programs. According to the results of review studies on the lack of injury information in soccer player kids, the aim of this study was to investigate the injury incidence in 7 to 12 year old male football players.

The study is a descriptive study in which out of 24 soccer clubs in Kerman, seven clubs were randomly selected. The data of 212 players ( age 11.22 ±1.29 years, height 142.67±9.2 cm, weight 36.91±9.2 kg) including the frequency, location and mechanism of acute injury during training. Injuries was collected from Fuller Injury Questionnaire (2006) through interviews. The relationship between the injury incidence with age groups and body mass index of players was measured using Chi-square test (p≤ 0/05).

The overall injury incidence was 1.05 injuries per 1000 hours of soccer in training sessions. Most injuries (84.3%) were located in the lower limbs. Tackling (56.8%) had the greatest injury mechanism. Significant differences were found between age groups with injury rates (P = 0.000, χ2 = 22.33) and body mass index with injury rates (P = 0.000, χ2 = 58.53).

The Present information can serve as a database in the injury incidence in soccer’s boys and also to identify risk factors such as age and body mass index increase. It can also be considered by researchers and football community planners in order to design injury prevention programs.