Injury risk in elite young male soccer players: a review on the impact of growth, maturation, and workload

Review written by Sam Blanchard info

Key Points

  1. This review highlights the complex relationship between growth, maturation, workload and injury risk in male youth soccer players.
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BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE

Soccer clubs invest significant time and resources in developing academy players, aiming to produce first-team professionals. The medical and performance departments play a crucial role in minimizing injury risks and optimizing players' ability to train and compete consistently. Growth in young athletes can be described by “tempo” (rate of change) and “status” (current height and weight). Peak Height Velocity (PHV), the period of fastest growth, typically occurs in boys around ages 13-14, with Peak Weight Velocity, or body mass increase, following about 18 months later.

Maturation, the transition from childhood to adulthood, involves multiple systems at different times. “Absolute maturity” reflects where an individual is on this journey, while “relative maturity” compares their timing to peers (early vs late). Given the variability in growth and maturation, managing training and workload during these critical periods is a key modifiable factor in reducing injury risk.

The primary aim of this paper was to present a review of current evidence and gain an understanding of the impact growth, maturation and workload have on injury risk in young soccer players. Secondary aims were to understand the rationale for each of the factors in this review, identify red flags and provide some essential strategies for informed decision-making.

Peak Height Velocity, the period of fastest growth, typically occurs in boys around ages 13-14, with Peak Weight Velocity, or body mass increase, following about 18 months later.
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Medical and performance teams working with this population need to work towards a unified framework to enhance performance whilst mitigating for risk of injury.

METHODS

  • This systematic review combined search terms for the population, such as “youth” or “male soccer players” with search terms for the variables around injury, training load and growth and maturation.
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