Implementing a performance monitoring and injury surveillance framework in elite youth soccer academies may mitigate injury risk and enhance athletic performance throughout maturation.
Implementing a performance monitoring and injury surveillance framework with multi-disciplinary communication is recommended to manage injury risk and optimize development in elite adolescent soccer players.
Professional soccer clubs invest significantly into the development of their academy prospects with the hopes of producing elite players. Talented youngsters in elite development systems are exposed to high amounts of sports-specific practise with the aims of developing the foundational skills underpinning the capabilities needed to excel in the game. Yet large disparities in maturation status, growth-related issues, and highly-specialised sport practise predisposes these elite youth soccer players to an increased injury risk. However, practitioners may scaffold a performance monitoring and injury surveillance framework over an academy to facilitate data-informed training decisions that may not only mitigate this inherent injury risk, but also enhance athletic performance. Constant communication between members of the multi-disciplinary team enables context to build around an individual's training status and risk profile, and ensures that a progressive, varied, and bespoke training programme is provided at all stages of development to maximise athletic potential.
McBurnie et al. (Fri,) conducted a review in Injury risk and athletic performance in elite adolescent soccer players. Performance monitoring and injury surveillance framework was evaluated. Implementing a performance monitoring and injury surveillance framework in elite youth soccer academies may mitigate injury risk and enhance athletic performance throughout maturation.