Non-contact injury incidence in professional women’s football depends on the starting status of the player
A summary of the research:
This study examined the relationship between playing time and non-contact injury risk in professional women’s soccer players. Researchers tracked 37 players from a Spanish professional team over two seasons, categorizing them as starters (playing >70% of matches) or non-starters. While both groups experienced similar training loads, non-starters had twice the incidence of non-contact injuries and three times the rate of muscular injuries in matches. The data suggest that lower match exposure leads to increased injury risk, likely due to under-exposure to the high-intensity demands of competitive play. Additionally, players who started fewer than 25 matches per season or performed fewer than 5,237 decelerations during training were more likely to suffer injuries.
The findings highlight that match play itself is essential for preparing players for the physical demands of competition. Training alone did not sufficiently compensate for the lower match loads of non-starters, leaving them at greater risk of injury when they did play. This study underscores the importance of workload management and suggests that targeted training interventions are needed to reduce injury risk for players who do not regularly start matches.
Key Takeaways:
Ensure Non-Starters Get High-Intensity Work in Training – Since non-starters are at higher injury risk due to under-exposure to match demands, training should include high-intensity drills, accelerations, and decelerations that mimic real game situations.
Monitor Match and Training Loads – Players who start fewer than 25 matches per season or perform fewer than 5,237 decelerations in training are at greater risk of injury. Coaches should track these metrics and adjust training plans accordingly.
Use Substitutions Strategically – Given the risk of injury for underloaded players, coaches should maximize substitution opportunities to gradually increase their match exposure and reduce injury risk over time.
Authors: Victor Moreno-Perez, Berta Carles Bové, Javier Courel-Ibáñez, Juan Del Coso, Marco Beato, Eva Ferrer Vidal-Barraquer, Gil Rodas Font
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