Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury is one of the most devastating injuries amongst football (soccer) players. A well-planned strength and conditioning program including deceleration drills, eccentric loading, and landing mechanic exercises will assist in decreasing the risk of non-contact injuries. Strength and conditioning coaches play an important role in developing and implementing professional programs for their athletes, with primary responsibilities including achieving optimal performance and reducing the risk of injury. The aim of this review was to identify if a structured strength training program & ACL warm up prevention protocol was implemented prior to training and games, would this result in a reduction in the incidence of ACL injury in male football players. Football is the highest participation sport worldwide, as reported by Federation of International Football Association (21), and findings have significant implications on all levels of the game and player well-being. Peer reviewed journal articles from eight online databases published between 2001-2018 were used to ensure the most relevant research for consideration. The intention was to identify any significant correlation between implementing a closed kinetic chain strength program and landing mechanic drills including; proprioceptive and decelerations drills, into football player programs to decrease the risk of non-contact ACL injuries. Finally, the aim is to guide strength and conditioning coaches with an evidence-based ACL injury protocol that can easily be integrated in practicality before warm-ups for both football training sessions and matches. Indications are that a successful prevention program for ACL non-contact injury in football players when implementing an open skill program that includes neuromuscular, proprioceptive, body awareness, decision making, plyometrics, core and trunk control exercises, performed with effective technique, increases muscle activation, decreases landing forces and varus/valgus actions. This assists in understanding the complexity of the injury, & exercise execution for prevention and should be prioritised and performed prior or within a football field warm-up for training and matches.
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