Injury Incidence in Professional Soccer
Injury Incidence in Professional Soccer
The winter break within the German Professional Football Leagues will be shortened as for the
 season 2009/2010 from 6.5 to 3.5 weeks. That might have repercussions on injury incidence in
 either way, positive or negative. On the one hand, recovery time during the winter will be
 shorter, which might lead to an increased risk of injury. On the other hand, it will allow a
 better spread of games in the second round, thus reducing the amount of the so-called
 "English weeks", which in turn could reduce the number of injuries. This study compares
 injury incidence between the season 2008/2009 (long winter break) and the season
 2009/2010(short winter break) via questionnaires in accordance with UEFA/FIFA injury
 evaluation criteria.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  German professional male soccer players

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Loss of professional status as a soccer player