Co-Creation of an Injury Prevention Implementation Strategy for a Girls' Football Team in a Community-Based Club.

The aim of this study was to investigate (1) Football coaches' and players' experiences with a co-created injury prevention (IP) implementation strategy, (2) Football coaches' and players' visions for improving the implementation of IP; and (3) to which extent the initial co-created implementation strategy increases the use of IP exercises. A mixed-method design consisting of observations and interviews. An implementation strategy was co-created with five youth girls' coaches in a community-based football club. The process was evaluated through semi-structured focus group interviews with five coaches and eight youth players. Observations of football sessions were conducted before intervention, 5 weeks after and 7 months after implementation. Interviews were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Five themes were generated from the coaches' interview: (1) use of IP during intervention period, (2) challenges during intervention period, (3) positive experiences during the intervention, (4) responsibility and other stakeholders, and (5) visions for future implementation. Four themes were generated from interviewing the players: (1) experiences with IP during the intervention, (2) injuries and consequences, (3) motivation, and (4) visions for implementation. Observations showed increased duration of IP and increased number of IP exercises after 5 weeks, but limited changes after 7 months. The co-created strategy led to a limited increase of IP exercises used. While coaches had mixed experiences with IP during the intervention, the players generally had positive experiences. The participants' visions for improving the implementation were to engage multiple stakeholders, change the culture of the club, and gain knowledge.