High risk of injury in football
It happens quickly: A torn muscle fiber, a pulled muscle or torn ligaments. Every year, 45,000 accidents occur while playing soccer, more than in any other sport. To reduce this number, Suva launched an online tool in March 2014 that allows every player to determine and reduce their own risk of injury. Since then, around 14,000 people have completed the football test.
"This exceeds our expectations and proves that the test is well received by footballers," says Philippe Gassmann, campaign manager football at Suva.
An evaluation shows that 77 % of all participants have an increased risk of injury. There is a need to catch up especially in the area of training. Although 85 % of soccer players always warm up, they rarely do preventive exercises during training. Many also pay too little attention to sufficient rest between training sessions.
The Swiss Football Association (SFV) is also aware that coaches have an extremely important role in accident prevention. It is therefore integrating Suva's football test into coach education and training for the first time. Each coach receives a football test package that includes instructions, score cards for the players and a competition card. Among other things, the coach learns how to make the most of the football test and lead his team to success.
All information about the new football test package for coaches is available for the Download ready. Anyone who completes the football test with their entire team can take part in a competition. The main prize is a team visit as VIP guests at the Swiss Cup Final.
Especially in the areas of training and fitness, coaches can make a big contribution to accident prevention" - Philippe Gassmann, Campaign Manager Football at Suva.
