Play safe: investment in two programs to curb soccer injuries

An investment of $2 million has been made towards youth soccer in an effort to make the sport safer for young players.

An announcement was made on July 23 by Rona Ambrose, Minister of Health with Victor Montagliani, President, Canada Soccer, Dr. Jiri Dvorak, Chief Medical Officer, Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), and Richard Way, CEO, Canadian Sport for Life today announced a total investment of $2 million aimed at reducing injuries in Canadian youth soccer players.

Soccer is the largest participatory team sport in Canada and is considered the fastest growing sport in the country.

Among youth, soccer injuries account for approximately 20 per cent of sports-related emergency department visits in Canada.

"With soccer being the largest participatory team sport in Canada and soccer injuries accounting for a significant percentage of sports-related injuries in the country, programs like FIFA 11+ and Movement Preparation play an important role in improving safety and preventing injuries while also encouraging a healthy, active lifestyle,” said Ambrose in a news release.

“I look forward to working with partners to see this program implemented in youth soccer practices across the country."

This $2 million investment supports the two soccer injury prevention programs mentioned by Ambrose, FIFA 11+ and Movement Preparation.

FIFA 11+ was developed by FIFA's Medical Assessment and Research Centre, and specifically targeting youth age 14 years and older, is a series of exercises aimed at strengthening the core and leg muscles, and improving neuromuscular control, coordination, balance, agility and jump technique.  

Movement Preparation, developed by Canadian Sport for Life, is a physical literacy program that uses similar exercises, but is geared towards soccer players aged 7-13 years.

The goal of FIFA 11+ and Movement Preparation is to reduce injury rates among youth playing soccer, while keeping them active, healthy and injury-free, on the field and off.

Both FIFA 11+ and Movement Preparation will be implemented in community soccer clubs across the country as early as this fall.