FIFA, CSA and Canadian government launch national injury prevention programme - MEDICAL
 |
| Getty Images |
Just a few weeks after the final match of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015™, FIFA, the Canadian Soccer Association (CSA) and the Public Health Agency of Canada have announced the launch in Canada of the FIFA 11+, a comprehensive warm-up programme designed to reduce football injuries. The initiative will be a significant legacy of Canada 2015, benefitting youth soccer players across the whole country.
The FIFA 11+ was developed by FIFA’s Medical Assessment and Research Centre (F-MARC), targeting players aged 14 years and older. Scientific evidence has shown that injuries can be reduced by up to 50% if the programme is practised on a regular basis. It has been successfully implemented in a number of FIFA member associations, including the last two FIFA World Cup™ champions, Germany and Spain, and FIFA Women’s World Cup 2011™ champions Japan. In Canada, the FIFA 11+ will be implemented in conjunction with Movement Preparation, a physical literacy programme developed by Canadian Sport for Life that uses similar exercises, but is geared towards soccer players between the ages of 7 and 13.
Both the Public Health Agency of Canada and FIFA are investing CAD 1 million over four years in this initiative, for a total investment of CAD 2 million. The programme will be implemented nationally in partnership between FIFA, the Public Health Agency and the CSA.
“F-MARC has been working for years on this programme, conducting a number of scientific studies that have demonstrated the significant impact it can have on players’ health. I’m extremely pleased to see it introduced in Canada with the support of the Canadian government, which shows the contribution that such a programme can have on public health. It will ensure that the FIFA Women’s World Cup leaves a long-lasting legacy for the entire football community in Canada,” said FIFA’s Chief Medical Officer, Prof. Jiří Dvořák.
“With soccer being the largest participatory team sport in Canada and soccer injuries accounting for a significant percentage of sports-related injuries in the country, programmes like the FIFA 11+ and Movement Preparation play an important role in improving safety and preventing injuries while also encouraging a healthy, active lifestyle. I look forward to working with partners to see this programme implemented in youth soccer practices across the country,” said Canadian Minister of Health Rona Ambrose.
“Canada Soccer is proud to partner with the Public Health Agency, FIFA and Canadian Sport for Life in the delivery of this important legacy initiative on injury prevention,” said Victor Montagliani, chairman of the National Organising Committee for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015™ and President of the CSA. “Soccer is the largest participatory team sport in Canada and as such we have a responsibility to educate young Canadian soccer players on injury prevention. This is a perfect example of engagement and collaboration with our stakeholders to ensure we provide the safest possible training environment for our young players,“ added Montagliani. “We are focusing on sustainable practices and generating tangible health benefits for the sport of soccer and Canadian society.”