Injury risk associated with playing actions during competitive soccer
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Objective:To assess the exposure of players to injury risk during English Premier League soccer matches in relation to selected factors. Methods:Injury risk was assessed by rating the injury potential of playing actions during competition with respect to (a) type of playing action, (b) period of the game, (c) zone of the pitch, and (d) playing either at home or away. In all, 10 games from the English Premier League 1999–2000 were chosen for analysis. A notation system was used whereby 16 soccer specific playing actions were classified into three categories: those inducing actual injury, those with a potential for injury (graded as mild, moderate, or high), and those deemed to have no potential for injury. The pitch was divided into 18 zones, and the position of each event was recorded along with time elapsed in the game, enabling six 15 minute periods to be defined. Results:Close to 18 000 actions were notated. On average (mean (SD)), 1788 (73) events (one every three seconds), 767 (99) events with injury potential (one every six seconds), and 2 (1) injuries (one every 45 minutes) per game were recorded. An overall injury incidence of 53 per 1000 playing hours was calculated. Receiving a tackle, receiving a “charge”, and making a tackle were categorised as having a substantial injury risk, and goal catch, goal punch, kicking the ball, shot on goal, set kick, and heading the ball were all categorised as having a significant injury risk. All other actions were deemed low in risk. The first 15 minutes of each half contained the highest number of actions with mild injury potential, the last 15 minutes having the highest number of actions with moderate injury potential (p<0.01). The first and last 15 minutes of the game had the highest number of actions with high injury potential, although not significant. More actions with mild injury potential occurred in the goal area, and more actions with moderate and high injury potential occurred in the zone adjacent to the goal area (p<0.001). There was no significant difference between home and away with regard to injury potential. Conclusions:Playing actions with high injury risk were linked to contesting possession. Injury risk was highest in the first and last 15 minutes of the game, reflecting the intense engagements in the opening period and the possible effect of fatigue in the closing period. Injury risk was concentrated in the areas of the pitch where possession of the ball is most vigorously contested, which were specific attacking and defending zones close to the goal. Injury potential was no greater in away matches than at home.
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During a passive half-time period, both muscle temperature and core temperature drop in excess of 1°C.
“during a passive half-time period both Tm and Tcore dropped in excess of 1 ⁰ C.”
From Half-time strategies to enhance second-half performance in team-sports players: A review and recommendations (2015) · cites this paper as [8]
Attenuated losses of muscle temperature and concomitant protection of physical performance follow an active rewarm-up.
“findings from studies reporting attenuated losses of Tm and concomitant protection of physical performance 8, 9, 20, 24 following an active rewarm-up further substantiate the importance of attenuating body temperature losses during half-time.”
From Half-time strategies to enhance second-half performance in team-sports players: A review and recommendations (2015) · cites this paper as [8]
Substantial physiological changes relating to acid-base balance, the glycaemic response, and muscle and core temperature result from typically passive periods comparable in length to half-time (~15 min).
“substantial physiological changes relating to acid-base balance 3 , the glycaemic response 4-6 and muscle (Tm) and core temperature (Tcore) changes 7-11 result from typically passive periods comparable in length to those observed during half-time (i.e., ~15 min).”
From Half-time strategies to enhance second-half performance in team-sports players: A review and recommendations (2015) · cites this paper as [8]
Moderate intensity running commencing after seven minutes of a half-time recovery period attenuated a 1.5°C reduction in muscle temperature and a 2.4% decrement in mean sprint performance observed with passive control practices.
“Mohr et al. 8 identified that moderate intensity running commencing after seven minutes of a half-time recovery period attenuated a 1.5°C reduction in Tm and a 2.4% decrement in mean sprint performance observed when passive control practices were employed.”
From Half-time strategies to enhance second-half performance in team-sports players: A review and recommendations (2015) · cites this paper as [8]
Passive half-time practices are detrimental to the performance capacities of team-sports players.
“Furthermore, evidence also suggests that passive half-time practices are detrimental to the performance capacities of team sports players 8, 10, 11, 13, 19, 20 .”
From Half-time strategies to enhance second-half performance in team-sports players: A review and recommendations (2015) · cites this paper as [8]
The decrease in muscle temperature at half-time was correlated to the reduction in sprint performance observed during the half-time break (r=0.60).
“the decrease in Tm at half-time was correlated to the reduction in sprint performance observed during the half-time break (r=0.60).”
From Half-time strategies to enhance second-half performance in team-sports players: A review and recommendations (2015) · cites this paper as [8]
Active rewarm-ups administered in the final stages of half-time improve subsequent physical and technical performance by attenuation of the reductions in body temperature seen when passive half-time practices are performed.
“Active rewarm-ups administered in the final stages of half-time improve subsequent physical and technical performance by attenuation of the reductions in body temperature seen when passive half-time practices are performed 8, 10, 11, 20 .”
From Half-time strategies to enhance second-half performance in team-sports players: A review and recommendations (2015) · cites this paper as [8]
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- Authors
- Rahnama, N., Reilly, T., & Lees, A.
- Affiliations
- Liverpool John Moores University (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Reilly, T
- Venue
- British Journal of Sports Medicine
- Publisher
- BMJ
- Published
- 2002-10
- Volume
- 36
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 354-359
- ISSN
- 0306-3674 (ISSN-L)
- 1473-0480
- PMC
- PMC1724551
- OpenAlex
- W2169915565
- Cited by
- 272
- References
- 28
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 15 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 14 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 18 · 2013: 16 · 2012: 11
- FWCI
- 6.78
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- British Journal of Sports Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Sports injuries and prevention
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Sports Performance and Training
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Injury Epidemiology and Prevention
- Keywords
- football injuries, injury risk, tackles, charge, injury incidence, English Premier League, fatigue, kicking, player safety, injury prevention
- MeSH terms
- Athletic Injuries, Fatigue, United Kingdom, Humans, Risk, Soccer, Time Factors, Incidence
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