The aim of the study was to evaluate the health-related effects of a 9-month walking-football (WF) season in already active older adults, comparing participants aged 50-59 and ≥60. The study employed a longitudinal pre-post design conducted in a real-world community setting. The participants were 32 adults aged over 50 (including 2 women) who completed a 9-month, twice-weekly outdoor WF program. Baseline and post-season assessments included body measurements, blood biomarkers, cardiovascular fitness (Bruce protocol), muscle strength (countermovement jump, handgrip strength, and isokinetic measurements), physical activity, and health-related quality of life. Training load was monitored via heart rate and session rating of perceived exertion. Statistical analyses compared pre- and post-season outcomes, as well as differences between age groups (50-59 vs. ≥ 60 years). Anthropometric parameters remained stable over the season, with participants aged 50-59 showing higher weight, BMI, and muscle mass than those aged ≥60 (p < 0.05). Reductions occurred in blood glucose, along with favorable changes in lipid profiles in older participants (p < 0.05), and increased vitamin D (p < 0.05). Creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and adiponectin decreased over the season (p < 0.05). Although the differences were not statistically significant, older adults maintained peak VO₂, whereas younger participants exhibited a small decline. Muscle strength decreased across both age groups, specifically handgrip strength and knee extension (p < 0.001-0.05). Physical activity levels showed a non-significant increase in total and high-intensity METs, especially among younger participants. In conclusion, walking football may help preserve cardiometabolic health, functional capacity, and quality of life in physically active older adults throughout a competitive season. Nevertheless, specific program adjustments-such as higher training loads, the inclusion of strength or resistance components, and age-tailored modifications-could be required to maximize outcomes, particularly among younger participants.

The development of young male soccer players entails intricate interactions among growth, maturation, and workload, which significantly impact injury risk. Peak height velocity constitutes a critical phase during which players undergo rapid physical changes, potentially increasing their susceptibility to injury. Given the variability in biological maturation, practitioners must implement individualized strategies to manage workloads and mitigate the risk of injury. This review synthesizes the current evidence on growth and maturation monitoring, offering a framework for integrating these insights into practical training interventions. It emphasizes the importance of longitudinal assessments, tailored workload management, and communication strategies among coaches, medical staff, and players. Practical applications include systematic tracking of growth metrics, bio-banding, modifying workloads based on maturity status, and implementing recovery protocols for high-risk individuals. These strategies enable practitioners to identify players undergoing accelerated growth and adjust training accordingly to reduce injury risk while optimizing long-term development. By bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and applied practice, this review provides actionable recommendations to support young athletes throughout their developmental journey, ensuring a balance between performance enhancement and injury mitigation.

This study investigated physical and psychological demands, performance, wellness perceptions, enjoyment and injury incidence among Over-50s and Over-60s walking football (WF) players during an international tournament. It involved 54 male players from the Basque, English, French and Italian squads. It collected data over two consecutive days, with each team playing one 40-minute match per day. Internal load was measured via heart rate (HR), lactate concentration and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE). External load was measured via minutes played, distance covered, accelerations, decelerations and speed. Game performance (passes, fouls and shots), wellness and injuries were recorded. Both age groups spent 85% of their playing time above 81% of their maximal HR, with elevated post-match lactate concentrations indicating significant exertion (p < 0.05), although RPE remained moderate. The Over-50s covered more distance and exhibited greater acceleration and deceleration rates than the Over-60s (p < 0.05), who showed a shift to slower movements on day two (p < 0.05). The Over-50s had higher pass success but committed more fouls (p < 0.05), while the Over-60s had more running-related fouls (p < 0.05). Both groups reported similar wellness and enjoyment levels, with minimal injuries. This study highlights the physical demands of WF tournaments and suggests that the benefits outweigh the risks for older adults.

Walking football (WF) is an effective activity for older adults to enhance cardiovascular, metabolic and psychosocial health. However, evidence on injury risks remains limited. This study aimed to describe the incidence and burden of injuries during a WF season and identify potential risk factors, including age, muscle function and blood biomarkers. Sixty-four male recreational WF players aged > 50 years participated. Baseline assessments included anthropometry, muscle strength and blood tests. A prospective follow-up recorded injuries and exposure during training (twice weekly, 1 h) and occasional matches. A total of 2,946 player-sessions were documented. Sixty-two injuries occurred (80.6% during training), with an overall incidence of 19.7 injuries per 1000 hours (95% CI: 15.3-25.2) and 892.4 days of injury burden. The most frequent were muscle injuries (64.5%), mainly in the hamstrings (29%) and calf muscles (25.8%). Most were acute (90.3%), non-contact (85.5%), and classified as moderate or severe. Older participants experienced a greater burden of injuries. Muscle functionality was not associated with muscle injury incidence. In contrast, higher incidence (p < 0.05) was observed among players with low HDL cholesterol, elevated triglycerides, high atherogenic index and elevated glucose. Despite the adapted rules, walking football in older adults is associated with an elevated risk of muscle injuries, particularly in the posterior leg compartment. Older age and adverse metabolic profiles appear to be important contributors. Future research should focus on evaluating the balance between health benefits and injury risks, optimizing warm-up routines and training load, and integrating screening for injury-related risk factors to enhance player safety.

PURPOSE:The objective of this study is to evaluate the concordance of predicted maturity status classifications (pre-, circa-, or post-peak height velocity (PHV)) relative to observed age at PHV in youth soccer players. METHODS:Longitudinal height records for 124 male soccer players were extracted from academy records spanning the 2000 to 2022 seasons. Age at PHV for each player was estimated with the Superimposition by Translation and Rotation model. Players were classified as pre-, circa-, or post-PHV using both ±1- and ±0.5-yr criteria to define the circa-PHV interval. Maturity status was estimated with several prediction protocols: maturity offset (Mirwald, Moore-1, Moore-2), maturity ratio (Fransen), and percentage of predicted adult height (PAH%) using the Khamis-Roche and Tanner-Whitehouse 2 equations using several bands: 85% to 96%, 88% to 96%, 88% to 93%, and 90% to 93% for the circa-PHV interval, and visual evaluation of individual growth curves alone or with PAH% based on Khamis-Roche and Tanner-Whitehouse 2. Concordance of maturity status classifications based on complete growth curves and predicted estimates of maturity status was addressed with percentage agreement and Cohen's kappa. RESULTS:Visual evaluation of the growth curves had the highest concordance (≈80%) with maturity status classifications (pre-, circa-, post-PHV) based on longitudinal data for individual players. Predicted maturity offset with the Mirwald, Moore-1, and Fransen equations misclassified about one-third to one-half of the players, whereas concordance based on PAH% varied with the band used, but not with the method of height prediction. CONCLUSIONS:Visual assessment of the individual growth curves by an experienced assessor provides an accurate estimate of maturity status relative to PHV. Maturity offset prediction equations misclassify the majority of players, whereas PAH% provides a reasonably valid alternative.

The aim was to present a descriptive 10-season summary of injury data from all teams of a professional football club using a heat map approach. Injuries and exposure time were registered according to the FIFA consensus in all men's and women's teams from Athletic Club over 10 seasons. A team-by-injury table was created, showing the incidence, median severity, and burden in each cell. Cells were coloured based on the injury burden value using a green - yellow-red gradient (lowest to highest). The highest overall injury burden was found in the women's 2nd and 1st teams and the men's U(under)17 team (>200 days lost/1000 h). Muscle injury burden demonstrated an increasing pattern with age. Knee joint/ligament injuries, particularly anterior cruciate ligament ruptures, had the highest impact on women's teams, followed by the men's 2nd team. In comparison, ankle joint/ligament injuries had a relatively low injury burden in most teams. Growth-related injuries were the most impactful injuries in the men's U15 and younger teams, and the women's U14 team. In conclusion, epidemiological data on injuries can inform and guide injury management processes. New and improved visualization methods might be important assets when presenting injury data to key decision-makers.

Objectives: To compare the injury profiles of football players shifting between second and first teams with those of second- and first-team players, and to examine the opinions of shifting players. Design: Prospective cohort study. Methods: 170 male players from Athletic Club (second team = 90, shifting = 20, first team = 60) were followed over eight seasons. Injuries and exposure time were recorded following the FIFA consensus, and 18 shifting players answered a seven-item questionnaire on their experience. Results: 35 % shifting players became full-time first-team players, in contrast to only 8 % of second-team players (odds ratio = 6.4, p < 0.01). There were no differences in the overall injury incidence, but the overall burden of injuries was higher in second-team (172 days lost/1000 h) and shifting players (194 days lost/1000 h) compared with first-team players (114 days lost/1000 h, p < 0.01). Shifting players had a higher burden of knee joint/ ligament injuries compared with first-team players (137 vs. 18 days lost/1000 h, p < 0.01) and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) ruptures (122 vs. 10 days lost/1000 h, p < 0.01). There was a trend towards a higher burden of ACL ruptures in shifting players than in second-team players (122 vs. 41 days lost/1000 h, p = 0.07). Shifting players reported constant pressure and better communication with the second-team coaching staff than with the first-team staff. Conclusions: The high burden of injuries in shifting players, particularly from ACL ruptures, highlights the need for action. Ensuring high-quality communication between second- and first-team staff remains a key challenge. (c) 2023 Sports Medicine Australia. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

ABSTRACT:Ribeiro, N, Martinho, DV, Pereira, JR, Rebelo, A, Monasterio, X, Gonzalo-Skok, O, Valente-dos-Santos, J, and Tavares, F. Injury risk in elite young male soccer players: a review on the impact of growth, maturation, and workload. J Strength Cond Res 38(10): 1834-1848, 2024-The long-term development of young male soccer players involves a prolonged period of significant adjustments, highlighting the importance of studying the complex interaction between dynamic variables, including workload, and inherent elements like growth and maturity. This analysis examines the intricate connections involving the development, maturity, workload, and susceptibility to injuries among adolescent male soccer players. Significantly, these connections become prominent at the peak height velocity (PHV) period, a crucial moment in maturation. Growth rates vary among individuals, and higher rates have been associated with an increased risk of injury in young soccer players, particularly during periods of rapid growth. Identifying possible risk factors and understanding the complex connections between them is crucial to developing specific methods for reducing the risk of injury. Sharing this valuable information with essential stakeholders is crucial for guaranteeing young athletes' comprehensive growth and maturation process. Furthermore, this review emphasizes the immediate need for long-term studies and thorough injury analyses to comprehend better the dynamic interactions that influence injury patterns in young male soccer players. This review will allow practitioners to better understand the main modifiable and nonmodifiable risk factors for injury and provide essential information focusing on practical strategies, facilitating more informed decision making by all stakeholders. The review aims to clarify these complexities and offer crucial insights that can assist in designing and implementing efficient strategies to reduce the risk of injury, specifically for the challenges faced during PHV and within the broader framework of long-term athletic development in young soccer.

HOW DID I DO IT? This thesis analysed injury, anthropometric and skeletal age data from routine monitoring of players at Athletic Club, whose professional male team plays in Spanish La Liga (1997–2022). Injury classification was based on the consensus of the International Federation of Association Football and practitioner’s experience. Individual exposure was recorded since the season of 2011–2012, which allowed us to describe injury incidence (number of injuries/exposure) and injury burden (number of days lost/exposure) for each injury in each category. Further, handwrist Xrays allowed us to compare injury burden between relative skeletal maturity status groups (early, ontime, late maturer) in men under 14 players. Longitudinal height data allowed to calculate peak height velocity (PHV), age at PHV, adult stature and growth rate for each player. These metrics were used to classify players according to their maturity status (prePHV, circaPHV and postPHV), timing (early, ontime, late) (figure 1) and growth rate (fast, average, slow) and describe the association of these variables with injury risk. In addition, maturity status assessment based on longitudinal height recording was used as a reference to study the accuracy by different maturity estimation methods (visual assessment of incomplete growth curves, maturity offset and ratio equations, percentage of predicted adult height (PAH%)).

This study aimed to explore the interaction between growth rate on specific injury incidence and burden on pre-, circa- and post-peak height velocity (PHV) periods. Injury and stature data collected during the 2000-2020 seasons in an elite football academy were retrospectively analysed. Only players with height measurements from childhood until the attainment of adult height were included in the study (N = 84). Growth data were smoothed using a cubic spline to calculate daily growth rate and height. Growth rate was categorised into three groups: fast (> 7.2 cm/year), moderate (3.5-7.2 cm/year) and slow (< 3.5 cm/year). Percentage of observed adult height was used to classify players as pre-PHV (< 88%), circa-PHV (88-95%) or post-PHV (> 95%). Overall and specific injury incidence and burden and rate ratios for comparisons between growth rate groups were calculated on pre-, circa- and post-PHV periods, separately. Overall injury incidence and burden were greater in pre-PHV players with quicker growth rates compared to players growing moderately and slowly. All in all, players with more rapid growth-rates were at higher risk for growth-related injuries in all pre-, circa- and post-PHV periods. Post-PHV, the incidence and burden of joint/ligament injuries were 2.4 and 2.6-times greater in players growing slowly compared to players growing moderately. Practitioners should monitor growth rate and maturity status and consider their interaction to facilitate the design of targeted injury risk reduction strategies.

PURPOSE:To compare the load and wellness of second-team academy football players during a first-team preseason with those of first-team players and those of their previous second-team preseason. METHODS:Athletic Club's first- (n = 10) and second-team (n = 9) players were prospectively followed during the 2019-20 first- and second-team and 2020-21 first-team preseasons. Weekly external and internal loads and average wellness z-scores (fatigue, sleep quality, muscle soreness, stress, and mood) were compared between preseasons and teams. RESULTS:While training together during the 2020-21 preseason, second-team players performed more decelerations <-3 m/s2 per week than first-team players (moderate effect size). For first-team players, there were only small differences between preseasons in external load, but session rating of perceived exertion was higher (moderate) and stress (moderate) and mood (large) z-scores were worse in 2020-21. For second-team players, more total distance (large), accelerations >3 m/s2 (large), and decelerations <-3 m/s2 (very large) were performed; total loading (moderate) and session rating of perceived exertion (moderate) were higher; and fatigue (very large) and stress (moderate) z-scores were worse during the 2020-21 first-team preseason compared to their previous second-team preseason. CONCLUSIONS:Players transitioning from the second team faced higher external and internal loads, fatigue, and stress during the first-team preseason compared to the previous second-team preseason. Player development and monitoring plans appear necessary to manage the transition from the academy to the first team.

Growth and maturation are potential risk factors for soccer injuries. This research sought to describe how peak height velocity (PHV) affects overall and specific injury burden in circa- and post-PHV elite academy soccer players. Injuries and growth data collected from 2000 to 2020 were studied retrospectively. Longitudinal height records for 124 players were fitted with the Super-Imposition by Translation and Rotation model to calculate PHV (cm/year) and age at PHV. Players were classified according to PHV percentile (fast:≥75th; average: 25-75th; slow:≤25th) and maturity status (circa- or post-PHV). Overall and specific injury burden (days lost/player-season) and rate ratios for comparisons between groups were calculated based on zero-inflated negative binomial models. Confidence intervals were calculated at the 95% confidence level (CI) and the significance level was set at<0.05. In circa-PHV, players with fast PHV had 2.6 (CI: 1.4-4.8)- and 3.3 (CI:1.3-6.7)-times higher overall burden and 2.9 (CI:1.1-7.1)- and 4.1 (CI: 1.4-15.2)-times higher for growth-related injury burden compared to players with average and slow PHV, respectively. Regular monitoring of growth seems important to detect players at higher risk for being disrupted by growth-related injuries.

Background: People with intellectual disability have poor balance skills and greater fall risk. The Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) provides comprehensive information on functional status and can predict fall risk. However, the reliability and validity of the SPPB have not been evaluated in people with intellectual disability. Methods: Seventy-eight adults with intellectual disability were assessed using the SPPB twice. Reliability was analysed with intraclass correlation coefficient and validity was assessed against the Timed Up & Go (TUG) test and the stabilometric test using Spearman's rho. Results: Reliability was moderate to high in all SPPB components except for the semi-tandem and full tandem positions. The SPPB summary score indicated moderate test-retest reliability and showed mostly significant moderate associations with the TUG and poor agreement with the stabilometric test. Conclusions: The SPPB summary score indicated high internal consistency, moderate reliability, and moderate validity when applied to adults with intellectual disability.

BACKGROUND:Adults with intellectual disabilities often experience mobility limitations. Baduanjin, a mindfulness-based exercise intervention, can exert positive effects on functional mobility and balance. This study examined the impact of Baduanjin on physical functioning and balance of adults with intellectual disabilities.METHOD:Twenty-nine adults with intellectual disabilities participated in the study. Eighteen received a Baduanjin intervention for 9-months; 11 participants did not receive any intervention (comparison group). Physical functioning and balance were assessed using the short physical performance battery (SPPB) and stabilometry.RESULTS:Participants in the Baduanjin group experienced significant changes in the SPPB walking test (p = .042), chair stand test (p = .015), and SPPB summary score (p = .010). No significant changes between groups were observed in any of the variables assessed at the end of the intervention.CONCLUSIONS:Baduanjin practice may cause significant, albeit small, improvements in physical functioning of adults with intellectual disabilities.

Maturation progresses at different times and at different rates between individuals. Thus, differences in maturity status exist among players in the same chronological age‐based category, especially in U14 players. The purpose of this prospective study was to describe injury burden according to the relative skeletal maturity status in U14 elite academy football players. From 2011 to 2020, injuries and individual exposure (training and match) were prospectively recorded in 183 male U14 players. Skeletal age (SA) was assessed using the Tanner‐Whitehouse 2 method. Relative skeletal maturity status [SA minus chronological age (CA)] was classified as follows: early (SA–CA > 0.5), on‐time (SA–CA ± 0.5), and late (SA–CA < −0.5). Overall and specific injury burden (days lost/1000 h) and rate ratios for comparisons between groups were calculated. Overall injury burden was 2.8 times higher (3.6 times in training) in early maturers compared with late maturers. Growth‐related injuries were the most burdensome injuries in all three groups, but significant differences were not found between groups. Muscle injuries were 4 times more burdensome in early maturers compared with on‐time and late maturers. Besides, joint/ligament injuries were 7 and 12 times less burdensome in late maturers than in on‐time and late maturers, respectively. Significant differences between groups in overall and specific injury burden were not found in matches. Our results showed different injury patterns in U14 early, on‐time, and late maturers. Hence, monitoring maturity seems crucial to detect potential injuries that cause the greatest disruption, and facilitate design of targeted injury prevention programs.

Background Due to the devastating impact of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury has on the female athlete´s career, anthropometrics and biomechanics-related risk factor screenings have been widely designed. However, the relation of aberrant movement patterns and other anthropometrical variables still remains controversial. Objective The aim of this study was to analyse if lower limb anthropometrics and knee kinematics could explain landing kinetics during a drop jump maneuver, as primary ACL injury risk factors in a female football environment. Design Prospective cross-sectional descriptive study. Testing methodology was settled inside an anatomical, biomechanical and functional conditioning risk factor screening. Data collection was made during the pre-season period. Setting 4 different teams from the region of the Basque Country (Spain). 2 youth second teams and 2 senior teams competing in the Spanish second division. Patients (or Participants) 64 youth female football players (age 20,32±4,9). Every available (non-injured) athlete was included. No lost participants during the data collection. Interventions (or Assessment of Risk Factors) Pelvic width and femur length were measured as anthropometrical gold variables. Knee valgus kinematics and landing kinetics during the bilateral and unilateral drop jump were registered. Main Outcome Measurements Knee valgus kinematic data (femur-tibia angle <180°) was captured by a video analysis tracker software. Landing kinetics were registered using inertial sensor unit technology. Results There was a little correlation (r=0,303) between landing peak VGRF and knee valgus kinematics, at p = 0,01 significance level, and also with the femur length (r=-0,338). In addition, the linear regression analysis showed that the pelvic width, femur length and knee valgus kinematics explained in 89,1% (R2) the landing kinetics results (p=<0,05). Conclusions A moderate significance level between lower limb anthropometrics, knee valgus kinematics and landing kinetics was the main finding at the present study. More exhaustive surveillance screening re-tests are needed in order to detect the main contributors for ACL injury mechanics in a female football context.

Background There is a gap in understanding how to use wellbeing and load measures in football, particularly in women. Objective To describe the association of wellbeing and session-rating of perceived exertion (sRPE) with injury risk. Design Prospective cohort study. Setting Elite football team from the Spanish first division. Participants 28 elite female players were followed during the 2017–2018 and 2018–2019 seasons. Assessment of Risk Factors Fatigue, sleep quality, muscle soreness, stress and mood (questionnaire from 1-worst to 5-best), exposure time in training and matches, RPE (0–10) and injuries were daily recorded. Daily and 7-day rolling z-scores were calculated for wellbeing items; and rolling 7 and 28-day sums, uncoupled 7 to 28-day ratios and week-to-week changes for sRPE [time x RPE in arbitrary units (au)]. In addition, the median sRPE of each session was estimated to account for the load of sessions where injuries occurred. Main Outcome Measurements The association of wellbeing and sRPE variables with non-contact injuries requiring 4 or more days of absence occurring on a given session was investigated using linear mixed models. Results The probability of injury was higher in matches (1.36%) than in training (0.44%, p=0.001). In training, sessions with high median sRPE (>525 au, 0.87 vs. the rest 0.35%), high 7-day loads (>2095 au, 0.76 vs. 0.31%), low 28-day loads (<5020 au, 0.71 vs. 0.32%) and worse than usual (<-1 z-score) 7-day fatigue (0.82 vs. 0.35%) and muscle soreness (1.19 vs. 0.28%) were associated with higher injury risk (p<0.05). Moreover, pre-match worse than usual daily sleep quality (3.03 vs. 0.85%), stress (4.55 vs. 0.92%) and mood (2.74 vs. 0.95%) showed higher injury probabilities (p<0.05). Interactions between wellbeing and sRPE were also observed. Conclusions This information in combination with other relevant factors and expert knowledge can be helpful to guide player monitoring and decision making.

Background Vitamin D has a role in skeletal muscle function and metabolism, however, its influence on muscle injury risk remains unclear. Objective To evaluate the association between Vitamin D status and muscle injury risk. Design Prospective cohort study. Setting Elite male football team from Spanish LaLiga. Participants 41 players were prospectively followed from 2016–2017 to 2018–2019. Assessment of Risk Factors Injuries and exposure time were recorded by the team doctor following the FIFA consensus. Blood analyses were performed in 4 different season periods (July, October, January and May). Main Outcome Measurements Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels were compared between periods using Student's T-test. The association of Vitamin D with 56 muscle injuries requiring 4 or more days of absence was investigated using a Cox-frailty model. The influence of days of absence due to all injuries on between-period changes in Vitamin D was assessed using linear mixed models. Results Vitamin D levels were highest in July (mean±SD; 48.1±9.9 ng/ml, p<0.001 vs. other periods), and lowest in January (27.3±7.9 ng/ml, p<0.001). There were no differences between October (37.3±8.3 ng/ml) and May (34.5±10.7 ng/ml, p=0.89). There was no association between continuous Vitamin D levels and muscle injuries adjusting for season period [hazard ratio=1.01, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.97–1.05, p=0.66]. Players in the lowest period-specific quartile, i.e. with the lowest vitamin D levels, had a 2.29 times lower risk of injury (95% CI=0.97–5.41, p=0.06, 1.30 muscle injuries/1000 h) compared with players in the middle (3.24/1000 h) and highest (2.87/1000 h) quartiles combined. Days of absence were negatively associated with changes in Vitamin D levels after adjusting for season period (B=-0.06, 95% CI=-0.13–0.01, p=0.06). Conclusions The association of Vitamin D status with muscle injuries should be further explored as studies are contradictory. Seasonal variations and being injured should be considered when supplementing with Vitamin D.

Injuries have a negative impact on the development of football players. Maturation is a potential risk factor for football injuries but available data on this topic provide limited evidence due to methodological shortcomings. The aim of this study was to describe the injury burden of male academy football players according to growth curve-derived maturity status and timing. Injury and growth data were collected from 2000 to 2020. Longitudinal height records for 110 individual players were fitted with the Super-Imposition by Translation and Rotation model to estimate age at peak height velocity (PHV). Players were clustered according to maturity status (pre-, circa-, post-PHV, or adults) and timing (early, on-time, late maturers). Overall and specific injury burdens (days lost/player-season) and rate ratios for comparisons between groups were calculated. Overall injury burden increased with advanced maturity status; pre-PHV players had 3.2-, 3.7-, and 5.5-times lower burden compared with circa-PHV, post-PHV, and adult players, respectively. Growth-related injuries were more burdensome circa-PHV, while muscle and joint/ligament injuries had a higher impact post-PHV and in adults. Further, in the pre-PHV period, late maturers showed lower burden of overall, growth-related, anterior inferior iliac spine osteochondrosis, and knee joint/ligament injuries compared with on-time maturers. In adult players, however, injuries were less burdensome for early maturers than on-time and late maturers. In addition, joint/ligament injuries of adult late maturers were 4.5-times more burdensome than those of early maturers. Therefore, monitoring maturity seems crucial to define each player's maturation profile and facilitate design of targeted injury prevention programmes.Highlights Injury burden is significantly lower in football players at pre-peak height velocity (PHV). Growth-related injuries are most burdensome circa-PHV, while muscle and joint/ligament injuries are more burdensome post-PHV and especially in adults.Before PHV, growth-related and knee joint/ligament injuries have lower burden in players who mature late than those who mature on-time. Adult late maturers have greater burden of overall and joint/ligament injuries than early maturers.Football academies should regularly assess the maturity status and timing of young football players, as the impact of injuries varies with maturation status and timing.Management of the maturity-related injury risk profile, in combination with other relevant factors (training load, neuromuscular and biomechanical factors, physiotherapy, coaching, communication, psychosocial factors …), might help improve the success of player development programmes and protect the health of young football players.