Key result
Female adolescent flag football participation is linked to significantly higher in-season energy levels versus nonathletes.
Why the study?
This study was conducted to describe physical injuries and associated risk factors during flag football season and to evaluate in-season mental health among female flag football athletes.
Does high school flag football participation affect physical injuries and mental health in female adolescents compared to nonathlete controls?
Cohort (n=98)
Does high school flag football participation affect physical injuries and mental health in female adolescents compared to nonathlete controls?
High school flag football participation among female adolescents is associated with higher energy levels independent of physical activity, alongside an injury rate of 7.25 per 1000 exposure hours.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
May support flag football for adolescent energy; leaves open injury and mental health effects pending RCTs.
Objective: The purposes of this study were to (1) describe the physical effects (injuries) and associated risk factors during flag football season and (2) evaluate in-season mental health of female flag football athletes. Design: Prospective cohort study. Participants: We conducted a 4-month longitudinal pilot study of female adolescents participating in a season of high school flag football and nonathlete controls. Setting: Preseason/in-season questionnaires. Interventions: Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures: Participants completed preseason and weekly in-season questionnaires assessing physical activity (PA), injuries, stress, mood, and energy. We calculated sport-related injury rates and used a multivariable Cox proportional hazards model to assess factors associated with injuries sustained. Results: Nintey-eight participants (n = 83 flag football) participated (mean age = 16.3 ± 1.1 years): 23 sport-related injuries were reported. The injury rate was 7.25 injuries/1000 exposure hours. There were no significant predictors of injury risk. Flag football athletes reported significantly greater in-season physical activity than nonathletes (9.6 ± 4.7 vs 4.5 ± 6.4 h/wk; P < 0.001) but physical activity level was not associated with energy level, mood, or stress. After adjusting for physical activity level and school year, flag football participation was associated with significantly higher energy levels during the season relative to nonathletes (β = 0.94; 95% confidence interval, 0.13–1.76; P = 0.02). Conclusions: The injury rate was 7.25 injuries/1000 exposure hours, and no variables were associated with injury risk. The complex nature of injury makes prediction challenging. Physical activity was not associated with mental health outcomes. Flag football participation was associated with significantly higher energy levels. Flag football may provide some benefit to athlete mental health independent of physical activity.
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Brna et al. (2025) conducted a cohort in High school flag football participation (n=98). High school flag football participation vs. Nonathlete controls was evaluated on In-season energy levels (β = 0.94, 95% CI 0.13-1.76, p=0.02). High school flag football participation among female adolescents was associated with significantly higher in-season energy levels relative to nonathletes (β = 0.94; 95% CI 0.13-1.76; P=0.02).
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