Effect of a Shortened FIFA11+ Warm-up Program and Sex-specific Footwear on Cutting in Youth Soccer Players

Summary

This research aims to look at how warm-up programs and types of footwear affect movement patterns that are associated with injury risk during change-of-direction tasks, also known as cutting, in youth soccer players. Specifically, this research is conducted in two parts with two different study designs: a quasi-randomized controlled trial and a crossover design. The main questions it aims to answer are:

* \[Part 1: Quasi-RCT\] How does sex and a shortened FIFA11+ warm-up program, lasting 3 months, affect movement patterns during cutting compared to a standard warm-up program in youth soccer players?
* \[Part 2: Crossover design\] How does female-specific footwear affect movement patterns during cutting, compared to unisex footwear, in youth female players? Secondarily, whether specific shoe properties (comfort, functional traction, pressure distribution) differ between the two types of footwear.

For part 1 of the research:

* Researchers will compare a shortened FIFA11+ with a Brazilian warm-up program (standard) to see its effect on movement patterns during cutting.
* Participants will perform their assigned warm-up program twice a week for 3 months (12-weeks).
* To assess movement patterns, participants will perform an unplanned sidestep cutting task, captured with markerless cameras, before and after the training period.

For part 2, only female participants will be involved:

* Researchers will compare the effects of female-specific soccer cleats (designed exclusively for female) with unisex soccer cleats on cutting patterns and certain shoe properties.
* All participants will test both types of footwear and perform an unplanned sidestep task captured with markerless cameras, run through a slalom course (multiple acceleration and change of directions) to test for shoe traction, and complete an online survey on shoe comfort and perceived performance.
* A subset of participants will perform a planned sidestep task with wireless insoles to test for pressure distribution.

Conditions

• Healthy

Interventions

OTHER

Shortened FIFA 11+ warm-up exercise program

The shortened FIFA11+ incorporates 5 exercises from the original FIFA11+ part 2 and 3: Sideways bench, single-leg stance, squats, jumping and plant and cut (refer to FIFA 11+ manual). All exercises, except plant and cut, have three levels of difficulty. Difficulty progression will follow FIFA11+ guideline option C where all players progress to the next level of all exercises after 3 or 4 weeks. This program is done on artificial turf. Coaches will be trained on FIFA guidelines by the primary investigator and provided with explanatory placards and the FIFA 11+ manual. The primary investigator will conduct checks twice a week with the coaches to address any questions and review the program. Only the shortened FIFA11+ group will receive verbal feedback as per FIFA11+ guidelines.

OTHER

Brazilian warm-up exercise program

The control group engages in a Brazilian warm-up. The warm-up consists of exercises performed in standing and while running including the following: * Performed in standing: Circular Arms (20-30 sec total), Opening and closing of the hips (20-30 sec total). * Performed while running back and forth on the field: Jogging (2 times), high kicks (2 times), glute kicks (2 times) * Performed while running forward (exercise), then small jog back without performing the exercise: hand-to-heel touches (2 times), knee and heel touches (2 times each side), side leg swings (2 times) and progressive sprint 80-90% speed (2 times). Coaches will supervise the session but will not be allowed to give verbal feedback. This program is done on artificial turf.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, Canada

  collaborator OTHER

• IDA sports

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Soccer Montréal

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• McGill University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Shawn Robbins, Associate Professor, PhD · McGill University

• Karen Chen, PhD Candidate · McGill University

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

13 Years

Max Age

17 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2024-01-29

Primary Completion

2024-05-22

Completion

2024-05-22

Countries

• Canada

Study Locations