A Fraction of Recommended Practices: Implementation of the FIFA 11+ in NCAA Soccer Programs

<i>Background and Objectives:</i> National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) soccer coaches implement numerous warm-up and flexibility strategies to prepare athletes for training and competition. The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) developed the 11+ injury p...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Lawrence W. Judge, Jeffrey C. Petersen, Donald L. Hoover, Bruce W. Craig, Nick Nordmann, Makenzie A. Schoeff, Brian D. Fox, Clark D. Dickin, David M. Bellar
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2020-08-01
Series:Medicina
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1010-660X/56/9/417
Description
Summary:<i>Background and Objectives:</i> National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) soccer coaches implement numerous warm-up and flexibility strategies to prepare athletes for training and competition. The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) developed the 11+ injury prevention program to reduce non-contact injuries. This study aimed to analyze the level of familiarity with and implementation of the evidence-based FIFA 11+ amongst NCAA Division I (DI) and Division III (DIII) men’s and women’s soccer coaches. <i>Materials and Methods:</i> NCAA soccer coaches in the United States received an Institutional Review Board—approved survey hyperlink. A total of 240 coaches completed the survey. The respondents represented 47.5% men’s and 52.5% women’s teams distributed within DI and DIII programs. Descriptive statistics are reported as frequency counts and mean ± standard deviation where applicable. Pearson’s chi-square tests were performed to assess potential differences with a significance level set at α < 0.05. <i>Results:</i> The results indicated that approximately 62% of the respondents reported being familiar with the FIFA 11+ program. Of those coaches familiar with the program, 15.0% reported full implementation, 57.5% reported partial implementation, and 27.5% reported no implementation. Chi-square analyses revealed significant differences in FIFA 11+ implementation based upon division level (χ<sup>2</sup> = 4.56, <i>p</i> = 0.033) and coaching certification levels (χ<sup>2</sup> = 13.11, <i>p</i> = 0.011). <i>Conclusions:</i> This study indicates that there is a gap between FIFA 11+ knowledge and actual implementation. To reduce the risk of non-contact injury, there is a need to educate coaches and athletic trainers on the purpose of the FIFA 11+ program and how to perform the exercises correctly.
ISSN:1010-660X