Soccer is considered to be not only a high-risk sport, but also a high-risk occupation. Evaluated against criteria used in occupational health, the risk associated with injury in professional soccer has been described as unacceptable (Drawer and Fuller, 2002). An injury audit in soccer, as in most occupations, is considered to be the first stage in a four-step process of injury prevention (Figure 5.1). Having identified that there is a high risk of injury in professional soccer, Hawkins et al. (2001) stated that the second phase must be to identify the factors and mechanisms that play a part in the occurrence of the injuries.
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