Effect of a Shortened FIFA11+ Warm-up Program and Sex-specific Footwear on Cutting in Youth Soccer Players

Plain-language summary

This research aims to look at how warm-up programs and types of footwear affect movement patterns that are associated with injury risk during change-of-direction tasks, also known as cutting, in youth soccer players. Specifically, this research is conducted in two parts with two different study designs: a quasi-randomized controlled trial and a crossover design. The main questions it aims to answer are: * \[Part 1: Quasi-RCT\] How does sex and a shortened FIFA11+ warm-up program, lasting 3 months, affect movement patterns during cutting compared to a standard warm-up program in youth soccer players? * \[Part 2: Crossover design\] How does female-specific footwear affect movement patterns during cutting, compared to unisex footwear, in youth female players? Secondarily, whether specific shoe properties (comfort, functional traction, pressure distribution) differ between the two types of footwear. For part 1 of the research: * Researchers will compare a shortened FIFA11+ with a Brazilian warm-up program (standard) to see its effect on movement patterns during cutting. * Participants will perform their assigned warm-up program twice a week for 3 months (12-weeks). * To assess movement patterns, participants will perform an unplanned sidestep cutting task, captured with markerless cameras, before and after the training period. For part 2, only female participants will be involved: * Researchers will compare the effects of female-specific soccer cleats (designed exclusively for female) with unisex soccer cleats on cutting patterns and certain shoe properties. * All participants will test both types of footwear and perform an unplanned sidestep task captured with markerless cameras, run through a slalom course (multiple acceleration and change of directions) to test for shoe traction, and complete an online survey on shoe comfort and perceived performance. * A subset of participants will perform a planned sidestep task with wireless insoles to test for pressure distribution.

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