Field based lower limb strength tests provide insight into sprint and change of direction ability in academy footballers.

Conducting field-based strength assessments is embedded within football academy development processes. Yet, there is a limited understanding of how hip and groin strength assessments relate to vital game-based tasks such as sprinting and change of direction (COD) performance. Our aim was to explore field-based strength assessments and their relationships with both sprint and COD performance in male academy footballers.

Strength development and non-contact lower limb injury in academy footballers across age groups.

Non-contact lower limb injuries are common in academy football. Yet, the impact these injuries have on strength development in academy footballers remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the impact of non-contact lower limb injury on hip, groin, and knee flexor strength development in male academy youth footballers.