The First Decade of Web-Based Sports Injury Surveillance: Descriptive Epidemiology of Injuries in US High School Boys' Soccer (2005–2006 Through 2013–2014) and National Collegiate Athletic Association Men's Soccer (2004–2005 Through 2013–2014)

Abstract

Context:  The advent of Web-based sports injury surveillance via programs such as the High School Reporting Information Online system and the National Collegiate Athletic Association Injury Surveillance Program has aided the acquisition of boys' and men's soccer injury data. Objective:  To describe the epidemiology of injuries sustained in high school boys' soccer in the 2005–2006 through 2013–2014 academic years and collegiate men's soccer in the 2004–2005 through 2013–2014 academic years using Web-based sports injury surveillance. Design:  Descriptive epidemiology study. Setting:  Online injury surveillance from soccer teams of high school boys (annual average = 100) and collegiate men (annual average = 41). Patients or Other Participants:  Boys' or men's soccer players who participated in practices and competitions during the 2005–2006 through 2013–2014 academic years in high school and the 2004–2005 through 2013–2014 academic years in college, respectively. Main Outcome Measure(s):  Athletic trainers collected time-loss (≥24 hours) injury and exposure data. Injury rates per 1000 athlete-exposures (AEs), injury rate ratios (IRRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and injury proportions by body site and diagnosis were calculated. Results:  High School Reporting Information Online documented 2912 time-loss injuries during 1 592 238 AEs; the National Collegiate Athletic Association Injury Surveillance Program documented 4765 time-loss injuries during 686 918 AEs. The injury rate was higher in college than in high school (6.94 versus 1.83/1000 AEs; IRR = 3.79; 95% CI = 3.62, 3.97). Injury rates increased with smaller school size for high schools and were higher in Division I than in Divisions II and III. The injury rate was higher during competitions than during practices in both high school (IRR = 3.55; 95% CI = 3.30, 3.83) and college (IRR = 3.45; 95% CI = 3.26, 3.65). Most injuries were to the lower extremity. However, concussion was a common injury, particularly in collegiate goalkeepers and at all positions for high school players. Concussions accounted for more than one-fifth of injuries in high school games. Conclusions:  Injury-prevention interventions should be tailored to reflect variations in the incidence and type of injury by level of competition, event type, and position.