The effect of 11+Kids program on the scores of musculoskeletal screening tests

Children and adolescents are more vulnerable to injuries than other groups. Therefore, it is necessary to use screening tests to identify players who are more susceptible to be injured and in parallel, using intervention programs to reduce the risk of injury. 

The purpose of this study was to investigate effect of 11+Kids program on the scores of musculoskeletal screening tests

Forty-eight players were randomly assigned into the FIFA 11+Kids (mean±SD; age= 12.70±1.30 years; weight= 44.34±6.16 kg; height= 1.52±0.09 m) and control groups (mean±SD; age= 12.91±1.31 years; weight= 45.51±8.13 kg; height= 1.55±0.11 m). The FIFA 11+ Kids performed instead of the usual warm-up for 8 weeks, while the control group performed their usual warm-up program. Functional movement screen (FMS) and special football jump-landing task (SFJLT) tests were examined in pre-test and post-test. 

The independent t-test showed no significant differences between the FIFA 11+ Kids and the control group in the FMS test (P= 0.055). Furthermore, results showed significant differences between groups in the SFJLT test (P= 0.001). 

Performing 8 weeks of FIFA 11+Kids can improve the musculoskeletal screening test score of SFJLT as a field-assessment soccer-specific jumping-landing test. It is suggestive that a field-based assessment tool to identify prone athletes is more beneficial than the FMS test of adolescent male soccer players.