Injury Prevention in Youth Soccer: Aligning Training With Developmental Milestones

Work Type

Poster

Abstract

Background

Youth soccer participation continues to rise, with approximately 3.9 million athletes in the United States.1 Despite the benefits of increased participation, injury rates remain high, with nearly 58% of injuries occurring in athletes under 18 years old.2 These injuries may be influenced not only by the sport, but also by the physiological changes associated with adolescence. Periods of rapid growth and biological maturation, particularly peak height velocity (PHV), increase injury risk because neuromuscular control and coordination may lag behind skeletal development. To add, athletes of the same chronological age may differ greatly in biological maturation, which can influence their movement, performance, and injury risk.

Gap in Practice

Most current injury prevention strategies are largely implemented according to chronological age rather than biological maturation. Although programs such as FIFA 11+ and FIFA 11+ kids are widely used, these interventions do not account for differences in growth, neuromuscular control, and developmental readiness among athletes of the same age.

Project Overview

  • Literature review on growth, maturation, and injury risk
  • Development of a “Developmental Milestone Warm-up”
  • Educational module and video for coaches, parents, and staff
  • Pilot implementation with a NorthStar FC youth soccer team

My Why

My lifelong involvement in soccer has provided firsthand exposure to injuries among youth athletes, particularly during adolescence. As a future physician assistant interested in pediatrics and sports medicine, understanding how developmental variability influences injury risk is important for improving prevention strategies, patient education, and long-term athlete health.

Publication Date

5-13-2026

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS