August 18 – FIFA has rolled out its ‘FIFA 11+ Kids’ programme into Brazil, partnering with the Brazilian Football Association (CBF) and its association of football doctors (CNMF) as part of the World Cup legacy programme, but handily timed with the Olympic football events in the country.
FIFA’s Chief Medical Officer, Professor Jiri Dvorak (pictured) and F-MARC (FIFA Medical Assessment and Research Centre) member Dr Mario Bizzini visited the CBF headquarters, taking part in a workshop and meeting with more than 100 youth coaches to launch the new initiative.
The CNMF has organised a total 44 ‘FIFA 11+’ workshops in Brazil since the World Cup in 2014, reaching 1,917 participants.
“We have seen the effects of the ‘FIFA 11+’ warm-up programme to protect high-level players from injuries, and the same results have been identified within amateur football. If we manage to implement ‘FIFA 11+’ all across Brazil, sooner or later the incidence of training and match injuries will be reduced by up to 50%,” said Professor Dvorak.
The ‘FIFA 11+’ programme has been very successful with adult teams with the objective now to extend it widely to the youth level and improve injury prevention in football. CNMF president Dr. Jorge Pagura said: “CBF has been investing thoroughly in improving standards, and this year we have offered courses to a total 60 doctors, 15 of whom work with women’s football.”
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