Injury risk associated with playing actions during elite female football at the 2012 Olympics games

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the injury risk during elite female football associated with: playing actions, pitch location and time within the game. The study aimed to provide a preliminary comparison between male and female injury risk. Five games from the 2012 Olympic Games in London were analysed through the use of a hand notation system. A total of 19 playing actions were coded for mild, moderate and severe injury potential and actual injury incurred. Time within the games was split in to six equal 15-minute periods. The pitch was divided in to 8 equal zones. A total of 9956 playing actions were recorded. Mild injury potential was significantly greater (p=<0.05) for all playing actions except taking a penalty. Five playing actions showed significant differences for moderate injury potential: ball kicked away (P=0.005), ball passed (P=0.005), received pass (P=0.009), header (P=0.008) and made a tackle (P=0.009). The only significant severe injury potential result was found in received a tackle (P=0.005). No significant results were found for pitch location or time within the game. The results of the study indicated gender differences in playing actions associated with increased injury risk, but very little difference associated with time or location within the game. These results provide a solid basis for the development of injury prevention in elite female football.