Effects of an Injury Prevention Program on Injury Rates in American Youth Football

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine if the time-loss (TLIR) and non-time-loss injury rates (NTLIR) in youth football were decreased by the implementation of the P.R.E.P.A.R.E injury prevention program. This study consisted of two groups: coaches and players. Some coaches took the program and select elements of the program were instituted. The injury rates (IR) in the players were compared pre and post. There was a reduction of some of the IRs during the intervention season. This reduction may be due in part to some of the coaches completing the entire program and all of the coaches instituting six elements of the program. Continued research is needed to determine if the IRs, in youth football, are consistently reduced by implementation of the program. Further research is needed to examine the impact of coaches taking and implementing the program on the reduction of injuries in other youth sports.