The 2012/2013 PFA Injury Report shows that immediately following the introduction of MMS the number and frequency of injuries to footballers, as well as the length of time footballers are sidelined due to injury, has plummeted.
“These results show that progress is being made and that better practices are being adopted by clubs, but there is still more work to do. The quicker players can return to fitness when injured, and more importantly avoid preventable injury in the first place, is crucial to each and every career,” said PFA President Simon Colosimo.

Colosimo added “There remains a strong correlation between a club’s prevention and management of injuries to their on-field performance and final league table position, thus highlighting the importance of maintaining and improving medical standards for clubs both financially and in terms of the level of success their teams can achieve.”
The report shows that in the eight A-League seasons held since 2005/06, five have seen the team with the best injury rank finish as that season’s A-League Premiership winners.

In 2008/2009, the 3rd edition of the Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) Injury Report identified troubling trends that were emerging in terms of injuries, and noted the need for ongoing monitoring, review and intervention.
These included but were not limited to:

• the total number of games missed through injury for all A-League clubs increasing;
• the incidence of soft tissue injuries remaining significant, and
• injury rates worsening as seasons approach their end.

It was clear that effective player injury prevention and management practices in the A-League required ever increasing focus, and in 2011/12 the data gathered by the PFA Injury Report over the years helped form the foundations for the implementation of MMS in the A-League as part of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between PFA and Football Federation Australia (FFA).

The PFA A-League Injury Report collates and analyses available data to measure the impact and extent of injury within the A-League.  It does so by reference to important considerations such as games missed, injury type and the number of players injured during the course of the season.

Clubs, fans and players all benefit from the reduction of injury through club coaches being able to more consistently select their best teams and add to the overall attractiveness and appeal of the game.

To view the 2012/2013 PFA Injury Report (edition 7) click here

ENDS