Page 19 - Safe Wrestling

The Importance of Injury-Preventive Behaviour

Table 1.3 Disconnect Between Perceived Knowledge and Actual Injury Occurrence
Suggests that Knowledge alone is Insufficient for Effective Prevention
Facilitator Type Examples Supporting Evidence
Training programs Wrestling+ enhances neu- 58% injury reduction
romuscular mechanisms
and balance
Movement skill develop- Improved FMS scores 66.7% reduction in high-
ment through targeted training risk wrestlers
Positive experiences Athletes perceiving inter- 70% of athletes rated IP-
vention as successful PON positively

in wrestling and other combat sports continues to increase, prevention
frameworks must account for sex-related differences in maturation tra-
jectories, neuromuscular control development, and psychosocial con-
texts that may influence both injury risk and injury-preventive behaviour
(Crossley et al., 2025; Rössler et al., 2014).
Furthermore, the literature suggests that disparities in access to tai-
lored prevention programmes and strength-development opportunities
may contribute to avoidable injury risk. Consequently, coach education
and prevention-oriented frameworks should explicitly promote inclusive
training environments, equitable developmental support, and preven-
tive strategies that accommodate diverse athlete needs without reinforc-
ing stereotypes or limiting participation opportunities (Crossley et al.,
2025; World Health Organization, 2020).
Implications for Youth Coach Education and Prevention-Oriented
Sport Culture
Taken together, the findings support a broader systemic conclusion:
sustainable injury prevention in youth sport depends on embedding
injury-preventive behaviour within coaching education, organisational
routines, and sport culture. Injury prevention cannot remain dependent
solely on individual motivation; rather, it requires institutional structures
that normalise safety-oriented behaviours and support their consistent
implementation (Finch, 2006; Donaldson & Finch, 2013). In this respect,
prevention functions as a defining characteristic of professional coach-
ing practice and ethical leadership, aligning with international expecta-
tions regarding youth athlete welfare (Crossley et al., 2025).
From the perspective of coach education, the synthesis suggests that
effective preparation must extend beyond the mere prescription of ex-

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