HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS REGISTER		Author Keyword(s) Vol Page [Advanced]

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this link to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Add article to my folders Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Finch, C Articles by Garnham, A Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Finch, C Articles by Garnham, A

Safety attitudes and beliefs of junior Australian football players

School of Health Sciences, Deakin University

Correspondence to:
Associate Professor Caroline Finch, Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Central and Eastern Clinical School, Monash University, Alfred Hospital, Prahran, Victoria, Australia, 3138;
caroline.finch{at}med.monash.edu.au

Objectives: To describe the safety attitudes and beliefs of junior (aged 16–18 years) Australian football players.

Setting: Six Victorian Football League Under 18 (VFL U18) clubs in Victoria, Australia.

Methods: Cross sectional survey. Altogether 103 players completed a self report questionnaire about their safety beliefs and perceptions of support when injured, across three contexts in which they played: VFL U18 club, local club, and school.

Results: Although only 6% believed it was safe to play with injuries, 58% were willing to risk doing so. This increased to almost 80% when players perceived that their chances of being selected to play for a senior elite team would be adversely affected if they did not play. There were significant differences in the perceived level of support for injured players and in the ranking of safety as a high priority across the three settings. In general, the VFL U18 clubs were perceived as providing good support for injured players and giving a high priority to safety issues, but local clubs and particularly schools were perceived to address these issues less well.

Conclusions: Junior Australian football players have certain beliefs and perceptions in relation to injury risk that have the potential to increase injuries. These negative beliefs need to be addressed in any comprehensive injury prevention strategy aimed at these players.

Keywords: sports injury; safety attitudes and beliefs; junior players; Australian football

Abbreviations: AFL, Australian Football League; VFL U18, Victorian Football League Under 18

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M Romiti, C F Finch, and B Gabbe A prospective cohort study of the incidence of injuries among junior Australian football players: evidence for an effect of playing-age level Br. J. Sports Med., June 1, 2008; 42(6): 441 - 446. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Yang, J. M. Bowling, M. A. Lewis, S. W. Marshall, C. W. Runyan, and F. O. Mueller Use of Discretionary Protective Equipment in High School Athletes: Prevalence and Determinants Am J Public Health, November 1, 2005; 95(11): 1996 - 2002. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R A Braham, C F Finch, A McIntosh, and P McCrory Community football players' attitudes towards protective equipment--a pre-season measure Br. J. Sports Med., August 1, 2004; 38(4): 426 - 430. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Players' beliefs are a barrier to preventing injury in junior Australian football Br. J. Sports Med., October 1, 2002; 36(5): 359 - 359. [Full Text] [PDF]