Head Impact Exposure in Practices Correlates with Exposure in Games for Youth Football Players

摘要

This study aimed to compare head impact exposures between practices and games in football players ages 9 to 14, who account for approximately 70% of all football players in the US. Over a period of two seasons, 136 players were enrolled from three youth programs and 49,847 head impacts were recorded from 345 practices and 137 games. During the study, individual players sustained a median of 211 impacts per season, with a maximum of 1226 impacts. Players sustained 50^th (95^th) percentile peak linear acceleration of 18.3 (46.9) g, peak rotational acceleration of 1305.4 (3316.6) rads⁻², and HITsp of 13.7 (24.3), respectively. Overall, players with a higher frequency of head impacts at practices recorded a higher frequency of head impacts at games (p < 0.001, r² = 0.52) and players who sustained a greater average magnitude of head impacts during practice also recorded a greater average magnitude of head impacts during games (p < 0.001). The youth football head impact data quantified in this study provides valuable insight into the player exposure profile, which should serve as a key baseline in efforts to reduce injury.