Causation of injuries in female football players in top-level tournaments.
BACKGROUND
Analyses of tackle parameters in injury situations have provided valuable information regarding men's football. However, there are no similar data for women's football.


OBJECTIVE
To categorise the tackle mechanisms leading to injury in elite women's football.


METHODS
Retrospective video analysis of injury situations.


METHODS
Events associated with all reported injuries during six women's top-level tournaments were analysed on video recordings for tackle parameters.


RESULTS
More than half of all injuries were due to tackles from the side (52%, 103/200), whereas tackles from behind were much less commonly involved in injury situations (11%, 21/200). One-footed (65%, 130/200) and upper body (21%, 42/200) tackle actions were most common. Sliding-in tackles leading to injury were the least likely to be sanctioned by match referees. Tackling players (45%, 90/200) were almost as likely to be injured as the tackled player (55%).


CONCLUSIONS
The present study found differences between injury mechanisms in women's football and previously published data on men's football. Further research, especially using video analysis, is needed for a better understanding of risk situations in football.
Tscholl
P
P
FIFA Medical Assessment and Research Center, Zurich, Switzerland. philippe.tscholl@access.unizh.ch
O'Riordan
D
D
Fuller
C W
CW
Dvorak
J
J
Gutzwiller
F
F
Junge
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012916:Soccer / Q000293:injuries*; D014741:Video Recording; D016387:Women's Health