Table 2.
Injury Rates by Time in Season and Type of Athlete-Exposure in High School and Collegiate Footballa
| Time in Season |
Exposure Type |
HS RIO (2005–2006 Through 2013–2014) |
NCAA-ISP (2004–2005 Through 2013–2014) |
||||
| Injuries in Sample, No. (%) |
National Estimates, No. (%) |
Injuries in Sample, No. (%) |
National Estimates, No. (%) |
Athlete- Exposures |
Injury Rate/1000 Athlete-Exposures (95% Confidence Interval) |
||
| Preseason | Practice | 4289 (88.2) | 1 227 359 (88.0) | 8689 (99.4) | 129 266 (99.6) | 994 532 | 8.74 (8.55, 8.92) |
| Competition | 573 (11.8) | 167 992 (12.0) | 50 (0.6) | 492 (0.4) | 1668 | 29.98 (21.67, 38.28) | |
| Total | 4 862 (100.0) | 1 395 351 (100.0) | 8739 (100.0) | 129 758 (100.0) | 996 200 | 8.77 (8.59, 8.96) | |
| Regular season | Practice | 3 934 (31.3) | 1 087 562 (30.4) | 4877 (36.0) | 73 387 (36.1) | 1 730 938 | 2.82 (2.74, 2.90) |
| Competition | 8 619 (68.7) | 2 490 405 (69.6) | 8662 (64.0) | 129 974 (63.9) | 266 625 | 32.49 (31.80, 33.17) | |
| Total | 12 553 (100.0) | 3 577 968 (100.0) | 13 539 (100.0) | 203 361 (100.0) | 1 997 563 | 6.78 (6.66, 6.89) | |
| Postseason | Practice | 246 (35.6) | 77 624 (34.3) | 300 (61.5) | 3925 (62.1) | 118 838 | 2.52 (2.24, 2.81) |
| Competition | 445 (64.4) | 149 009 (65.7) | 188 (38.5) | 2392 (37.9) | 8875 | 21.18 (18.16, 24.21) | |
| Total | 691 (100.0) | 226 633 (100.0) | 488 (100.0) | 6317 (100.0) | 127 713 | 3.82 (3.48, 4.16) | |
Abbreviations: HS RIO, High School Reporting Information Online; NCAA-ISP, National Collegiate Athletic Association Injury Surveillance Program.
Excludes 83 injuries reported in HS RIO due to missing data for time in season. Injury rates by time in season could not be calculated for high school as athlete-exposures were not stratified by time in season. High school data originated from HS RIO surveillance data, 2005–2006 through 2013–2014; collegiate data originated from NCAA-ISP surveillance data, 2004–2005 through 2013–2014. Injuries included in the analysis were those that (1) occurred during a sanctioned practice or competition; (2) were evaluated or treated (or both) by an athletic trainer, physician, or other health care professional; and (3) restricted the student-athlete from participation for at least 24 hours past the day of injury. All concussions, fractures, and dental injuries were included in the analysis, regardless of time loss. Data may include multiple injuries that occurred at 1 injury event.