Effect of FIFA 11+ injury prevention programme on physical variables among football players

Abstract

Background: Effective injury prevention programs are essential for enhancing performance and reducing injury risk in football players. The FIFA 11+ injury prevention program, developed by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), is designed to achieve these goals through a structured series of exercises. Aim: This study aims to evaluate the effect of the FIFA 11+ injury prevention program on injury prevention and performance enhancements in speed and agility among college male football players. Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 30 male football players, aged 18-25 years, from Sree Kerala Varma College in Thrissur district, Kerala, India. Participants were randomly assigned to either the Experimental group (n=15), control group (n=15). The intervention lasted for 12 weeks, with sessions conducted 3 days a week, each lasting 45-60 minutes. Speed and agility were measured as dependent variables using the 50-meter dash and the Illinois agility test. Injury rates were recorded throughout the study period. Results: The experimental group (FIFA 11 + injury prevention Programme) demonstrated significant improvements in both speed and agility compared to the control group (p< 0.05). The average time for the 50-meter dash decreased, and performance in the Illinois agility test improved in the experimental group. Additionally, the experimental group exhibited a lower injury rate compared to the control group over the 12-week period. Conclusion: The FIFA 11+ injury prevention program effectively enhances speed and agility while reducing injury rates among college male football players. These findings support the inclusion of the FIFA 11+ injury prevention protocol in regular training regimens to improve performance and prevent injuries.