The scientific foundations and associated injury risks of early soccer specialisation.
Early specialisation is characterised by formal participation in a single sport at the exclusion of others. Limited data are available to support this approach in the development of soccer players who attain elite status later in life. Of growing concern is the associated increased risk of injury and suggestions that single sport specialisation is a risk factor independent of age, growth, biological maturation and training volumes. In the United Kingdom, elite soccer organisations have recently adopted an early sport specialisation approach following the introduction of the Elite Player Performance Plan. A key tenet of this programme is increased opportunities for training through a marked rise in the specified on-pitch hours per week. The accumulation of high training hours may be less of a relevant marker for success, and the impact of such a significant increase in training volume for young athletes who are experiencing a range of growth and maturational processes is currently unknown. This critical commentary includes an evidence-based discussion of the effectiveness of early sport specialisation and the potential injury risks associated with such programmes placing a specific focus on elite male youth soccer players. Available data indicate that modifications to the existing Elite Player Performance Plan framework could enhance players' development and reduce injury risk. Proposed alterations include reduced volume of soccer-specific training at key stages of growth and maturation and guidelines for the provision of a greater variety of physical activities that are integrated within other programme components.
a School of Sport, Health and Applied Science , St Mary's University , London , UK.
Paul J
PJ
Read
b Youth Physical Development Unit, School of Sport , Cardiff Metropolitan University , Cardiff , UK.|c Sport Performance Research Institute, New Zealand (SPRINZ) , AUT University , Auckland , New Zealand.
Jon L
JL
Oliver
d School of Sport and Exercise , University of Gloucestershire , Gloucester , UK.
Mark B A
MB
De Ste Croix
e Division of Sports Medicine , Cincinnati Children's Hospital , Cincinnati , OH , USA.|f Department of Pediatrics and Orthopaedic Surgery , College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati , Cincinnati , OH , USA.|g The Micheli Center for Sports Injury Prevention , Boston , MA , USA.|h Department of Orthopaedics , University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia , PA , USA.
Gregory D
GD
Myer
b Youth Physical Development Unit, School of Sport , Cardiff Metropolitan University , Cardiff , UK.|c Sport Performance Research Institute, New Zealand (SPRINZ) , AUT University , Auckland , New Zealand.
Rhodri S
RS
Lloyd
D000293:Adolescent; D056352:Athletes; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000209:etiology*; D054874:Athletic Performance; D002648:Child; D012090:Cumulative Trauma Disorders; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010806:Physical Education and Training; D012307:Risk Factors; D012586:Science; D012916:Soccer / Q000293:injuries*; D013178:Sports Medicine; D006113:United Kingdom
Soccer; early specialisation; elite player performance; injury; overuse