419 The fédération internationale de football association (FIFA) 11+ injury prevention program: awareness, implementation and opinion of worldwide professional and semi-professional soccer players and coaches

Background The Federation International de Football Association (FIFA) has promoted and deployed the FIFA 11+ injury prevention program worldwide. Developed and studied by the FIFA Medical Assessment and Research Centre (F-MARC), the program relied on international randomized controlled trial which significantly reduced injuries and healthcare costs. Objective To assess the awareness level, implementation rate, and opinion of the FIFA 11+ injury prevention program among worldwide professional and semi-professional soccer players and coaches. Design A cross-sectional study. Setting An online survey for all continental football federations. Patients (or Participants) A total of 1690 professional and semi-professional soccer players and coaches completed the survey. Interventions (or Assessment of Risk Factors) The questionnaire consisted of questions relating to the awareness level, implementation rate, and opinion of the FIFA 11+ injury prevention program. Questions development was guided by several authors whose expertise is in sport medicine and injury prevention. Main Outcome Measurements The primary outcomes were awareness level, implementation rate, and opinion of the effectiveness of the FIFA 11+ injury prevention program in reducing injuries. Results A total of 824 (48.8%) professional and semi-professional soccer players and coaches reported awareness of the FIFA 11 + injury prevention program and 680 (40.2%) reported implementing the FIFA 11 + injury prevention program in their current practice at some level. Participants who implemented the FIFA 11+ injury prevention program reported a positive attitude towards program efficacy, with a score of 8.16±1.10 out of 10. Conclusions The results suggest a relationship between the variables explored. Therefore, increasing awareness of the FIFA +11 injury prevention program may increase implementation rates around the world, which may lead to an increase in the reduction of soccer injury incidence.