A 10-year analysis of emergency department data shows American football poses a greater risk of severe injury to youth athletes than soccer.


RT’s Three Key Takeaways:

  1. Football Injury Prevalence: American football accounted for 64.7% of injuries among youth athletes compared to soccer in a 10-year national analysis.
  2. Hospitalization Risk Factors: Factors such as male gender, Hispanic ethnicity, and participation in football were associated with higher odds of hospital admission.
  3. Prevention Strategy Needs: Researchers said the findings highlight a requirement for targeted injury prevention to reduce the severity of incidents in youth football.


Youth athletes participating in American football face a significantly higher risk of injury and hospitalization compared to those playing soccer, according to a study published in The Physician and Sportsmedicine.1

Researchers conducted a retrospective analysis of the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) database from 2014 to 2023 to compare injury characteristics between the two sports.1 The study included athletes in childhood (5 to 10 years), early adolescence (11 to 13 years), and adolescence (14 to 18 years) who sought care at emergency departments (EDs).1

During the 10-year period, there were an estimated 3,228,911 injuries nationally, according to the study.1 American football was responsible for a significantly higher proportion of these injuries at 64.7% compared to 35.3% for soccer.1 Football also demonstrated higher injury rates across all body regions, including the head, neck, trunk, and extremities.1

Multivariable logistic regression identified several factors associated with increased odds of hospitalization.1 These included being an adolescent aged 14 to 18 years, male gender, Hispanic ethnicity, and football-related injuries.1

The results provide healthcare professionals with data to support targeted injury prevention strategies.1 “Youth athletes participating in American football experience significantly more injuries and a higher risk of hospitalization compared with those participating in soccer,” the authors wrote.1

No significant temporal increase in injury incidence was observed for either sport between 2014 and 2023, the study said.1 Researchers noted that the findings underscore the necessity for safety interventions aimed at reducing the severity of injuries in youth football.1


Reference

Ly V, et al. Injury incidence and risk factors in youth American football versus soccer: a national emergency department analysis. The Physician and Sportsmedicine, 2026:1–9. https://doi.org/10.1080/00913847.2026.2691689