Citation

Wilke J, Niederer D, Vogt L, Banzer W. PLoS One 2018; 13(4): e0195998.

Affiliation

Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, Department of Sports Medicine, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Public Library of Science)

DOI

10.1371/journal.pone.0195998

PMID

29672579

Abstract

A large body of evidence suggests that the 11+ warm-up programme is effective in preventing football-related musculoskeletal injuries. However, despite considerable efforts to promote and disseminate the programme, it is unclear as to whether team head coaches are familiar with the 11+ and how they rate its feasibility. The present study aimed to gather information on awareness and usage among German amateur level football (soccer) coaches. A questionnaire was administered to 7893 individuals who were in charge of youth and adult non-professional teams. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the obtained data. A total of 1223 coaches (16%) returned the questionnaire. There was no risk of a non-response bias (p>.05). At the time of the survey, nearly half of the participants (42.6%) knew the 11+. Among the coaches who were familiar with the programme, three of four reported applying it regularly (at least once per week). Holding a license (φ =.28, p <.0001), high competitive level (Cramer-V =.13, p =.007), and coaching a youth team (φ =.1, p =.001) were associated with usage of 11+. Feasibility and suitability of the 11+ were rated similarly by aware and unaware coaches. Although a substantial share of German amateur level coaches is familiar with the 11+, more than half of the surveyed participants did not know the programme. As the non-usage does not appear to stem from a lack of rated feasibility and suitability, existing communication strategies might need to be revised.

Keywords: Soccer

Language: en