“The coach must know…” | Relief

Dr. Ramon Cugat and his team presented a few days ago in the hall Clinic Quiron in Barcelona study of injury rates among cadets and young players (from 15 to 19 years old). They focused special attention on cruciate ligamentincreasing recently in both adults and minors, where an increase in incidence is observed. In the first case, this is multifactorial, but one of the main reasons explaining this is a very busy calendar. “The greater the exposure, the greater the risk.”– said Cugat.

In grassroots football, as children approach the end of their formative stages, they suffer more from these types of injuries. Cadets and juniors suffer the most. After six consecutive years of study and 3,800 cruciate joint injuries during this time periodCugat and his team, led by Alfred Ferrer, drew their own conclusions on the matter; They believe there are many factors justifying this increase and generally note, as with older adults, that hours of play are critical.

“The volume of matches plays a decisive role. So is the intensity.”Cugat opened up. It is obvious that the pace of play and the intensity of competition for juniors and young men is not the same as for young men, which is a prelude to amateurism or, at best, to professionalism. And exactly youth suffer from the crusaders. Out of every hundred players, 0.38 cadets suffer an ACL injury. Among young people it is 0.86%. For girls, the data is even more severe: 1.14% in cadet years and 2.38% in adolescence.

In addition to the volume and intensity of the matches, also different playing surfaces, as well as a lack of prevention in teams and shoes are responsible for so many cruciate injuries that take nine to twelve months to recover.

“Artificial grass has more friction than natural grass.. This causes the heels to become deeper. But when turning, a problem arises…”, Cugat revealed the reasons related to the surface and shoes. One of his team’s physiotherapists, Adria, shed some light among so many cold and dramatic numbers. “The solution is in preventive exercises”

– he assured. He named the program implemented by world football’s highest body, FIFA 11+, as a remedy. “Done 15 minutes before games and practices and reduces cruciate joint injuries by 50%.”.

“The Complete Warm-up Program to Prevent Football Injuries” is the name of the guide that Adria recommended and in which the organization currently led by Gianni Infantino, He lays out his 40-page prevention plan, exercise by exercise.developed by FIFA and its Medical Evaluation and Research Center (F-MRC). It’s destined “amateur players over 14 years old” and it is a complete warm-up package that “should replace the usual warm-up before training and matches”, according to the foreword to the guide, proposed by several football bodies. This is the case Royal Andalusian Football Federationwho posted this on his website.

The goal is to prevent and avoid non-contact injuries. thanks to careful preparation. 11+ consists of three parts, with a total of 15 exercises that should be performed at the beginning of each workout in the order listed. Includes running, strength, balance, agility and change of direction exercises. Also stretching. Everything is described in great detail in the instructions.

According to data available to FIFA, using the program and based on our experience: Serious injuries fell the most: 47.7%.. The governing body of world football, in its dossier, also calls on clubs and coaches to take responsibility and get used to doing the exercises it recommends: “The coach must recognize the importance and effectiveness of injury prevention programs.. “Not all football injuries are preventable, but especially knee injuries, ankle sprains and overuse problems can be significantly reduced by regular preventive exercise.”