Time-loss and non-time-loss injuries in youth football players.
BACKGROUND
Estimates suggest that more than 5.5 million youths play football annually, and 28% of youth football players (age range = 5 to 14 years) are injured each year, resulting in more than 187 000 emergency room visits.


OBJECTIVE
To analyze time-loss (TL) and non-time-loss (NTL) injury patterns across age groups in youth football players.


METHODS
Two-year observational cohort.


METHODS
Two midwestern communities, including players from the fourth through eighth grades and between the ages of 9 and 14 years.


METHODS
A total of 779 players participated, including 296 in grades 4 and 5; 203 in grade 6; 188 in grade 7; and 92 in grade 8. (Players in the fourth and fifth grades participated on the same teams, so we considered them as a single group.)


METHODS
Injury frequencies and exposures were collected by certified athletic trainers present at each practice and game and used to calculate injury rates with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for both TL and NTL injuries across age groups.


RESULTS
A total of 474 injuries and 26 565 exposures were identified. Injuries were reported by 36.5% of the players, with 14.4% reporting more than 1 injury in a season. The overall injury rate per 1000 athlete-exposures (A-Es) was 17.8 (95% CI = 16.3, 19.5). The injury rate increased with each succeeding grade from 14.3 per 1000 A-Es (95% CI = 12.1, 16.9) in grades 4 and 5 to 21.7 per 1000 A-Es (95% CI = 17.2, 27.3) in grade 8. A total of 58.6% of all injuries were NTL. Non-time-loss injuries accounted for 70.1% of the injuries reported by fourth and fifth graders, 55.1% by sixth graders, 64.0% by seventh graders, and 33.8% by eighth graders. The cumulative NTL injury rate was 10.5 per 1000 A-Es (95% CI = 9.3, 11.8), and the TL injury rate was 7.4 per 1000 A-Es (95% CI = 6.4, 8.5).


CONCLUSIONS
Youth football players sustained more NTL injuries than TL injuries. We recommend that a first-aid-certified coach or league official be present at all games and practices.
University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA, USA. tdomps@gmail.com
Thomas P
TP
Dompier
John W
JW
Powell
Mary J
MJ
Barron
Marguerite T
MT
Moore
D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D001134:Arm Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003288:Contusions / Q000453:epidemiology; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000453:epidemiology; D012090:Cumulative Trauma Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D005538:Football / Q000293:injuries* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000453:epidemiology; D018882:Heat Stress Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D007869:Leg Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D015146:Midwestern United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D019838:Neck Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D013124:Spinal Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology; D013180:Sprains and Strains / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors