Injury Reporting in Collegiate Soccer Players and the Impact of Non-Reporting

• Published in: The Internet journal of allied health sciences and practice 2020
• Main Authors: Nelson, Nathaniel, Albright, Carolyn
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1540-580X; 1540-580X
• DOI: 10.46743/1540-580X/2020.1908

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine injury reporting rates of collegiate soccer players and explore possible consequences of not reporting these injuries. Methods: Soccer players (male and female) from eight Division II and III schools were surveyed about their injury history during college, injury reporting behavior, and the consequences of their worst non-reported injury. The head coach of each soccer team was also surveyed about their perception of player injury reporting on their team. Results: Of the 232 athletes surveyed, 171 had been injured during their college career and 67 (39.2% of those injured, 28.8% of all surveyed) had not reported one of their injuries at some point during their college career. Coaches perceived that the rate of non-reporting on their team would be on average 16.6%. Eighty-seven percent of non-reporters reported that due to their injury they had to lower intensity of playing, 20.9% missed playing/practice time, and 92.5% self-treated while they were injured. 43.3% percent were re-injured and 12 of those athletes missed more time because of the re-injury. 59.7% percent would choose to not report an injury again. Conclusion: Approximately 40% of all soccer players who had been injured during their collegiate career sustained an injury that they did not report. This unreported injury in many cases led to negative consequences such as decreased intensity of play or re-injury. College athletic trainers and coaches must be aware of this non-reporting and determine the best practice for creating a better environment for openness about injury discussion and reporting.