The Prevalence of Volleyball Preseason Injuries

Summer has only just begun, but volleyball athletes are also entering their preseason along with summer camps and vacations. It’s essential for coaches and athletes to be aware that volleyball injury rates are significantly higher during preseason compared to fall’s in-season - almost double the amount. Therefore, it’s crucial that coaches and trainers recognize and monitor risk factors to reduce the prevalence of injuries.

Volleyball is the second most popular sport among youth athletes. It also requires movements that place a high amount of stress on the body and thus may increase the risk of injury. During preseason, a majority of injuries occur during team drills and toward the end of practice when intensity and fatigue are high. To prevent injuries, coaches might consider implementing neuromuscular training programs, educating themselves on concussion management and recognizing common risk factors such as training volume. What’s concerning is that the cost of athlete care increases without prompt intervention.

Investing in safety management measures and services like InjureFree can help prevent injuries that, ultimately save sports organizations hundreds of thousands of dollars on insurance costs. By improving coach education, and investing in safety management, not only will organizations save on insurance costs but they will also improve the athlete experience, generate quality programs and overall, improve the organization’s success. 

Click here to learn more about InjureFree and here for more on volleyball athlete safety from Active & Safe.

References

1. Forman, J. (2023, May 17). Injuries: How coaches can reduce risks. Coaching Volleyball. https://coachingvb.com/injuries-how-coaches-can-reduce-risks/
2. Nowakowski, B. (2021, May 11). Sports injury treatment: A-G administrators. Five Steps to Prepare Student-Athletes for Sports-Related Injury Treatment. https://agadministrators.com/news/athletic-department-sports-injury-response/
3. Volleyball - Active & Safe. (n.d.-b). https://activesafe.ca/volleyball